Know Your Council Officers

His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda was born in Ozieri in the province of Sassari in Sardinia in 1929 and later studied to become a priest at the Capranica College in Rome.

Cardinal Pompedda was ordained priest in December 1951. In January 1998 His Eminence was consecrated Archbishop at St Peter’s in the Vatican City by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. In February 2001 His Eminence was promoted to the rank of Cardinal and assigned to the Deaconate of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Via Ardeatina, Rome. His Eminence is currently Prefect Emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Segnatura and President of the Court of Cassation of the Vatican City State.

In May 2001, during a ceremony at the Church of Saint George of Velabro in central Rome, His Eminence was appointed by HRH The Duke of Castro as Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

In November 2003, Cardinal Pompedda was officially appointed Ecclesiastical Counsellor of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Constantinian Order of St George – a position His Eminence maintains under the new pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. One month later, the Order's Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, promoted His Eminence to the degree of Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice with Collar of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. In addition Cardinal Pompedda was appointed as a Knight of the Distinguished Royal Order of Saint Januarius, the highest award which the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies can bestow.

His Excellency Marchese Aldo Pezzana Capranica del Grillo is the Grand Chancellor of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George and holds the rank of Knight Grand Cross (Special Category).

Marchese Capranica del Grillo was born in Vercelli, Italy in 1928. He is a Professor of Roman Law and History of Italian Public Law at the La Sapienza and San Pio V Universities in Rome. For most of his professional life, Marchese Capranica del Grillo was dedicated to the Administration of the Italian State. In 2000, he was appointed Honorary President of the Italian State Council and is currently President of the Association of the Italian Historical Houses. Some of his other posts include Heraldic Counsellor to the Grand Priory and Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

In response to his outstanding contributions in the judicial, political and historical spheres, Marchese del Grillo has been recognised with the following Orders of Knighthood: Knight grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight Grand Cross of Saint Maurice and Lazarus; Knight Grand Cross of Saint Joseph of the House of Asburgo-Lorena; Knight of Justice of the Order of St Stephen; and Knight of the Civil Order of Savoy. Marchese del Grillo is also a keen publicist and author of a number of legal and historical publications.

His Excellency Ambassador Antonio Benedetto Spada is the Grand Treasurer of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George and holds the rank of Collar of the Constantinian Order. He is also the Counsellor for the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Seychelles.

His Excellency was born in Brescia, Italy in 1932. He graduated in Economics at Pisa University in 1957 and obtained a qualification of an official auditor. Among his awards are: Knight Grand Cross of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand; Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I; Knight Grand Cross of Magisterial Grace of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; Knight Grand Cross of the Order Al Merito Melitense; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight of the Civil Order of Savoy; Knight Grand Cross and Collar of the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit of Savoy; Knight of the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky; Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Merit of San Lodovico di Parma and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Sava.

In addition, His Excellency has been awarded the Medal of the Italian Republic and the Medal of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta for the November 1980 earthquake. He is also a Conferee of the Noble and Most Ancient Teutonic Order of Austria and of the Compagnia dei Custodi delle SS. Croci Order.

Prince Don Paolo Boncompagni Ludovisi is the President of the Royal Deputation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and holds the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Justice.

Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi was born in 1947 in Rome and much of his professional life has been devoted to international affairs. He is a key figure in the International Telecommunication Union and participated in the worldwide conferences for Plenipotentiary Ministers for Telecommunications. Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi has also been directing the international affairs and Public Relations requirements of Telecom Italia.

Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi is a Diplomat accredited to the Holy See and Chief of Protocol of the Grand Magistry of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Vice President of the “Réunion del la Noblesse Pontificale” and of the Roman Commission of Italian Nobleness.

Among decorations bestowed on him are that of Knight of Justice of Saint Joseph of the House of Asburgo-Lorena, Knight Grand Cross of Saint Joseph, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, Knight of Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Savoia. Prince Ludovisi is a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Member of the “Council of the 12”.

Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.