ROME - Fra Andrew Bertie, a descendant of Britain's royal Stuart family who was grand master of the Knights of Malta, has died, the ancient lay Roman Catholic order said Friday. He was 78.
Bertie, who was the 78th grand master of the 900-year-old charitable order, died Thursday in a Rome clinic, the group said in a statement. No information on the cause of death was given.
Bertie was elected to lead the order in a secret conclave in 1988. He is credited with modernizing the group's humanitarian programs, increasing membership as well as boosting diplomatic relations and extending its reach in troubled and far-flung regions, the statement said.
Source: AP
Comment:
The Requiem Mass for HHEmH fra Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince & Grand Master of the Order of Malta, was celebrated in the Basilica of Sts Boniface and Alessio on the Aventine. The President of the Republic of Italy, the Grand Duke Jean of Luxemburg, the Prince of Liechtenstein and the Co-Regents of San Marino attended. The senior royal attending was HRH Infante don Carlos, Duke of Calabria, who was invited as Grand Master of the Constantinian Order and was seated next to Prince Charles of Bourbon and the latter's wife Camilla, the Duke of Braganza, the Duke of Parma, Louis-Alphonse de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou, the Archduke Georg, and Princess Michael of Kent were among those present, along with 14 Cardinals. Cardinal Laghi was the celebrant and Cardinal Sodsano the homilist; addresses were also given by the former President of the Republic of Malta and Ambassador John Bellingham who read a tribute by Prince Rupert zu Loewenstein.
Guy Stair Sainty
Source: rec.heraldru
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