On 9 November 2005 the Path to Peace Foundation will bestow the 2005 Path to Peace Award to His Most Eminent Highness, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, and President of the Path to Peace Foundation, announced that His Most Eminent Highness has been unanimously selected to receive the Award by the Board of the Path to Peace Foundation, an agency established to carry out the projects to support the work of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations.

H.M.E.H. Fra’ Andrew Bertie was born and educated in London. From 1948 to 1950 he carried out military service in the Scots Guards, obtaining the rank of officer in 1949. After a short experience in the commercial sector, he taught Modern Languages for 23 years at Worth School, the Sussex Benedictine high school.

He was admitted to the Sovereign Order of Malta in 1956. He has contributed to the government of the Order since 1981as a member of the Sovereign Council and in April 1988 he was elected the 78^th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. More commonly referred to as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, it is a lay religious order of the Catholic Church, formally recognized by the Pope in 1133 A.D., and is the fourth oldest religious order of the Church.

The motto of the Order is Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum, that is, to defend the faith and to serve the poor. Gradually the Order took on a military function, and became one of the most advanced fighting and naval forces in the world. As the need for military force was diminished, the Order focused its attention to better serving the poor and the sick throughout the world. Currently, there are over 10,000 Knights and Dames worldwide engaged in charitable works. The Order of Malta sends millions of dollars worth of food, medicine, and relief supplies around the world each year.

As Grand Master, Prince Bertie oversees the numerous international charitable activities of the Order, which now has observer status at the United Nations.

It is in recognition of his exemplary charitable works that the Path to Peace Foundation honors His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie with the 2005 Path to Peace Award, which will be presented in his name to the Grand Chancellor, H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Mazery, at a Gala Dinner held by the Foundation at the Sky Club in New York City.

[01388-02.02] [Original text: English]

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