|
SPEECH GIVEN AT
ANNUAL DINNER IN NEW YORK 15 January 1999 Most Reverend Eminencies,
Excellencies, dear Dames and Confréres, It is a great pleasure for me
to attend the Annual Dinner of the American Association in my capacity as Grand
Chancellor of the Order and to have the possibility to address such a competent
audience. My visit to your Association,
my taking part in this solemn investiture and my greetings which are also
directed to the Presidents and representatives of our Order gathered here from
various parts of the world and to the two sister-Associations in the United
States, acquire a particular significance. This is not only due to the fact of
the presence of the Grand Chancellor of the Order at one of the most solemn
acts in the life of a Knight, but it is also an expression of deep gratitude
for the activity of the United States Associations, and particularly your own,
in offering a substantial contribution to the Order’s work of assistance in
developing countries, especially in Latin America. During all these years, the
American Association has constantly given proof of its service by contributing
to the financing of relief shipment in favour of populations in need. Moreover,
on the occasion of the recent visit to Cuba of His Most Eminent Highness, the
Prince and Grand Master, it was possible to take there relief materials
amounting to 8 million dollars thanks to the generous contribution of the
United States Associations and the efforts of our Ambassador in Cuba, whom I
wish to thank once again. This is the evidence of the good co-operation
existing between the Order’s organisations and the Grand Magistry. The members of the American
Association, who are more than 2500, are fully conscious of the important role
played today by the Knights of Malta and have recently shown this by attending
in great numbers the world gathering held in Malta for the opening of the
celebrations of the Order’s 900th anniversary. The American Association has
decided to solemnise this anniversary in a very special way, and this is the
first manifestation that an Association of the Order has organised in honour of
this event since the official opening of our Jubilee year. This important gathering
tonight also offers me the opportunity to give you a picture, however concise,
of the Order’s growth in its 900th year of life: - The Associations have
increased up to 41; - The Embassies are 81; - Postal agreements are now
45; - Co-operation agreements
number 23; - The Sovereign Order is also
represented in several international organisations as an observer, the United
Nations Assembly being first and foremost in this group. It is with great satisfaction
that I have seen so much emphasis given in today’s investiture to its religious
side. This is a fundamental aspect of our Order; and I do hereby express the
hope that this new millennium which now opens will see, not only praiseworthy
activity in aid of suffering, but also more importance given to the Order’s
religious character and an increase in vocations. From a political point of
view, on the other hand, this ceremony has also given the opportunity to hold
two other important meetings in New York: one concerning the Coordination
Centre in Miami and the other attended by the American members chosen to
participate in the forthcoming Chapter General. As to the meeting on the
Coordination Centre I take the liberty to urge the American, the Federal and
the Western Associations to consider the opportunity to continue to back it up
in the future. This is extremely important
with respect to the policy of the Grand Hospitaller, who was also here today
and whom I thank for having honoured with his presence the meeting summoned by
those in charge of the Centre. What better way to conclude
these remarks about the life of our Order than to offer warmest wishes for the
well-being of this large part of the Order’s family here assembled and for the
success of the Order in the third millennium. Please accept my sincere thanks for your
cordial welcome and my best wishes for the future activities of the American
Association. The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on
being a success. I am confident that your activities will increase in the
forthcoming millennium, thanks to the enthusiasm and vitality, which you are
blessed with. Of course, I take this opportunity to wish all the best also to
the Presidents of the Associations and the representatives of the Order’s
bodies who have attended this important reception. Their support and presence
has enabled us to truly enjoy this day. In conclusion, thank you, everybody,
for listening and I hope you are having a wonderful evening and are all as
happy as we are today. Please join me
in drinking a toast to the health of the Grand Master and our future.
Top
right, The
Official Visit of the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Gustavo Noboa
Bejrano, and his wife Donna Maria Isabel. This meeting was held on 15 October
2000, and was attended by the Grand Chancellor of the Order, Amb. Count Don
Carlo Marullo di Condojanni and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Francesco Guariglia. Bottom, Rome. Magistral Villa on the Aventine. The Te Deum Ceremony closing the celebrations for the ninth century of life of the Order. His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, together with the Members of the Sovereign Council, the Prelate of the Order, the Heads of Diplomatic Missions, and the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, with his wife. |
