To Venerable Brother

Cardinal-elect

Silvano Maria Tomasi, C.S.

After accepting the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, I hereby appoint you my Special Delegate to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Sain John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta (H.M.O.M.), with the task of collaborating, for the greater good of the Order, with His Excellency Fra' Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas Boas, Interim Lieutenant and Grand Commander, and with the next Grand Master, duly elected.

You will have all the powers necessary to decide any issues that may arise in the implementation of the mandate entrusted to you, to receive the oath of the next Grand Master, and will be my exclusive spokesperson for all matters concerning relations between this Apostolic See and the Order.

I ask you to carry out the office of Delegate until the conclusion of the process of updating the Constitutional Charter and the Melitense Code, and in any case for as long as I consider it useful for the Order itself.

In renewing the assurance of my prayer to you, I cordially impart the Apostolic Blessing to Your Eminence, which I extend to all the Members of the Order of Malta.

From the Vatican, 1 November 2020.

FRANCIS