Rome – April 2002. The Grand Prefect and the Duchess of Calabria presided over the 2002 annual Saint George’s Day mass and investiture which was held in the Basilica of Saint George in Velabro in central Rome.
HMEH The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Frà Andrew Bertie(above), HE Count Jacques de Liedekerke, Grand Chancellor and other members of the Sovereign Council attended. His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda, Grand Prior of the dynastic orders and Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Segnatura, celebrated mass. His Eminence Luigi, Cardinal Poggi, also attended.
Among the 27 knights and dames invested into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order were HE Ambassador Signor Giuseppe Balboni Acqua, Chief of Protocol at the Quirinale Palace (Knight Grand Cross of Grace), HE Signor Federico Di Roberto, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to France (Knight Grand Cross of Merit), Dr Gabriele Albertini, Mayor of the City of Milan (Knight Commander of Merit with Star), Prof Umberto Veronesi, former Italian Minister of Health (Knight Commander of Merit with Star), and the Hon Dr Roberto Formigoni, President of the Lombardia region (Knight Commander of Merit with Star).
The British and Irish Delegate, Anthony Bailey, and delegation council member Baron Marco Marrocco Trischitta were present at the ceremony, mass and reception that followed.