The Holy Father's
Greeting (from the window of his study) to the Knights and Dames of
the Sovereign Military Order of Malta present in St. Peter's Square
Thursday 24 June 1999
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. On the occasion of the feast of St. John the Baptist, your Holy Patron,
you have wanted to gather for a solemn celebration in the basilica dedicated
to him. I welcome to each of you and I greet the entire Order of the
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, called the Sovereign Military Order
of Malta, which has recently celebrated its General Chapter.
I greet especially the Prince and Grand Master Fra' Andrew Bertie, the
"Cardinalis Patronus Pio Laghi, the Prelate Monsignor Donato de Bonis,
the Grand Chancellor and the dignitaries of the just renewed Sovereign
Council. I wish you all successful work in the service of God, the Church
and the Order.
For over nine hundred years, your meritorious Order has been bearing
faithful witness in the world to its motto: "Tuitio fidei, obsequium
pauperum", corresponding to the evangelical command to "Love
God and love thy neighbour".
2. You are fully convinced that the defence and expression of the Faith
constitutes the basis of evangelisation, and you want to offer your
contribution so that the evangelical message can continue to illuminate
also the third millennium of the Christian era, now imminent. To this
end, you feel pledged to act out your allegiance to Christ through the
expression of love, which becomes service to your brethren, especially
to the poor: what you rightly call "obsequium pauperum".
Your presence alongside the sick and the suffering, earthquake victims
and refugees effectively testifies to this love for the least. It qualifies
your religious and sovereign Order as a worthy structure that shoulders
the burden of human suffering.
Remain strong in your allegiance to Christ, the Church and the poor.
Bear always in mind the words of Jesus: "This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15.12), and again:
"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did
it to me" (Mt 25.40).
While I hope that your meritorious action may intensify, I entreat for
each of you the maternal protection of your heavenly Patron, the Blessed
Virgin Mary of Mount Philéremo, who has always accompanied you at home
and in exile. May the Order's holy Patron, St. John the Baptist, herald
of the presence of Christ in the history of the world, also support
you.
With these sentiments, I willingly impart the Apostolic Benediction
to the Grand Master, to all you present and to the entire Sovereign
Military Order of Malta, particularly to the sick and the suffering
you assist in every part of the world.