Rome, May 2016. The 2016 International Pilgrimage to Rome and Vatican City was organised by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George on 13, 14 and 15 May 2016 as part of the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy attended by over 1000 Knights, Dames and other pilgrims.
This important religious weekend was led by His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior, and held in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Castro.
The Delegate HE Anthony Bailey led the Knights and Dames of British and Irish delegation, who attended the pilgrimage including Lord and Lady Brennan of Bibury, HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg Mrs Bailey, HSH Prince Peter von Hohenberg, HH Judge Sir Gavyn Arthur, HE Mr L’ubomír Rehák, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Court of St James’s, Mr Kevin Hart, Mrs Elizabeth Thornborough, Mr and Mrs Patrick Downes, Miss Anna Hodson-Pressinger, Mr and Mrs James Drabble and Cllr Clare Head.
During the pilgrimage, an Inter-religious Conference “Together for the common God in diversity” was held on Friday 13 May 2016 at the Headquarters of the Foreign Press Association in Rome, with the participation of representatives of the three monotheistic religions. The conference was attended by HRH The Grand Master, the Cardinal Grand Prior and other High Dignitaries of the Order.
The conference was followed by a tour in the afternoon of the Casino dell’Aurora at Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi, where the Book “Francis II of Bourbon, The Catholic King” was presented by Professor Roberto de Mattei. Thanks to the choice of the Grand Master, the Knights and Dames were greeted by art critic Professor Vittorio Sgarbi, who also presented the exhibition of the painter, Master Giovanni Gasparro.
A welcome dinner was hosted in the evening at Hotel Princess in the presence of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Castro and the High Dignitaries of the Order.
On Saturday 14 May 2016, the passing through the Holy Door and a guided tour of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore took place, accompanied by the Act of Entrustment to the Virgin Mary at the Icon Salus Populi Romani in the Paolina chapel. The tour continued with the passing through the Holy Door of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and a guided tour of the Scala Santa and the Sancta Sanctorum chapel.
A Holy Mass was celebrated and presided by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino at the Main Altar in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, where knights and dames were able to process in the mantle capes of the Order.
During the Mass, HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two-Sicilies thanked Pope Francis for having granted a Special plenary indulgence to all the Knights and Dames during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. Special thanks was given to His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica, who granted permission to celebrate Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. A special thanks was also given to His Eminence the Grand Prior for having been a guide in faith to the Order’s Knights and Dames. HRH The Duchess of Palermo and HRH The Duchess of Capri were also confirmed during the mass.
On Sunday 15 May 2016, a collegial meeting of the Grand Master was held with delegates and representatives from all around the world, where Delegate of Great Britain and Ireland, Anthony Bailey, was also present.
During the Pilgrimage the book “For a spiritual journey of the Constantinian Knights and Dames” was presented by the Grand Prior to all Knight and Dames of the Order.