Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Pope FrancisRome, 19 March 2013. On the occasion of the solemn opening ceremony of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis as Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father received the act of obedience by a representative of the Cardinals, two for each order: the bishops, priests and deacons.
Rome, 19 October 2012. Clarification about the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in regards of the publication by the Vatican Secretariat of State.
“We welcome the helpful publication by the Vatican Secretariat of State of its position concerning the recognition by the Holy See of numerous Equestrian Orders. This position is longstanding, well understood and appreciated by the Grand Master and Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order”.
London, June 2012.The Bourbon-Two Sicilies Royal Family, The Duke and Duchess of Castro, Princess Maria Chiara and Princess Maria Carolina spent the long weekend retracing their families history by visiting some of the most important places associated with the former kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The Royal Family visited the magnificent Royal Palace of Caserta which was commissioned by their ancestor King Carlo of Bourbon in the eighteenth century and built by renowned architect Luigi Vanvitelli.
The monument, unique in the world and rivalling in size and magnificence only with the Palace of Versailles, was the scene in 2002 of a royal banquet for over 300 prominent guests from across the world which was held to mark the Baptism of Princess Maria Carolina. Subsequently, the Royal Family visited Salerno and Naples. During the visit, Princess Maria Carolina celebrated her nineth birthday with a visit to Capri and visited the magnificnent ‘Blue Grotto’.
18 March 2012. His Majesty King George Tupou V of Tonga passes away. At this sad news H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, head of the Royal House of Naples, sent to the Royal family of Tonga the expression of his deep heartfelt condolences in memory of the recent visit to Rome by His Majesty and of the friendly relations launched on this occasion.
Rome – 28 February 2012. By decree of the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, His Majesty King George V Tupou of Tonga was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I in recognition of the warm ties, which exist between the two Royal dynasties.
The Tongan monarch, who is a Methodist, was also awarded the Gold Benemerenti Medal of the Constantinian Order in recognition of King George’s efforts to defend and protect the Christian faith in Tonga and for his global contribution to further greater inter-religious understanding.
The two high awards were presented to King George V Tupou by the Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order, His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.
Cardinal Martino also presented on behalf of the Grand Master the insignia of the Knight Grand Cross of Merit of the Constantinian Order on Mr David Dunkley, Private Secretary to the King and the insignia of Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I on the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Italian Republic HE Mr Sione Ngongo Kioa.
Rome, 27 February 2012. The Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, representing the Grand Master, received in Rome the Tongan Head of State, His Majesty King George V Tupou.
His Eminence and His Majesty held cordial talks on furthering co-operation between the Constantinian Order and the Kingdom of Tonga. Cardinal Martino recalled his past visit to Tonga – a country where Roman Catholics in the south pacific nation number some 16%. The King also paid tribute to the role and contribution of the Catholic community to Tongan society.
Among other issues discussed were the role of faith in Tonga and the wider pacific region, inter-religious understanding and the joint desire to further cooperation at all levels between Italy and Tonga.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Italian Republic, HE Mr Sione Ngongo Kioa and Mr David Dunkley, Principal Private Secretary to the Tongan monarch were among the members of the Tongan delegation present during the one hour meeting which was followed by a reception.
The Constantinian Order delegationin attendance on the Grand Prior were the Secretary General of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, HE Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua, KCVO, the Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, HE Mr Anthony Bailey and his wife HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, Dr Alberto Calafato Janelli, Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Castro and Mr Vincenzo Giovagnorio Head of the Protocol of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.
During King George V Tupou’s visit to Rome His Majesty also paid an official visit to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican City and held talks with HMEH Frà Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta at the Palace of Malta in Rome.
Freedom of the City of London award to Constantinian Order
London, October 2011. Freedom of the City of London award was granted to the Constantinian Order’s Grand Master HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and HRH Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro, have been granted the Freedom of the City of London by order of the Court of Common Council of the City of London. The ceremony took place as part of a wider four-day visit to London at the invitation of the Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland of the Constantinian Order.
Dublin, 21 October 2011. President Mary McAleese of Ireland sent message to the Constantinian Order on the occasion of the 2011 Investiture Mass and Royal Gala Dinner of the British and Irish Delegation of the Constantinian Order of St George.
In the message dated 18 October 2011 and sent from Aras an Uachtaráin, the Irish Head of State said” “I would like to convey my warmest greetings to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland on the occasion of your annual investiture Mass and Gala Dinner. “I am very honoured to be included among the members of the prestigious Order which so loyally and devotedly defends the Catholic faith. “Our two Islands know, all too well, the terribly destructive power of religious intolerance. We know that, underpinning the work of peace and prosperity building is the gospel challenge to love one another, to forgive one another and to be charitable to one another. I thank you for your quiet and often courageous work in promoting a true understanding of the Catholic faith, and engendering respect and tolerance for those who practice and uphold that doctrine. “May God Bless you in your important work. I wish you an enjoyable and successful evening. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland.”
The message was read out at the Investiture Mass celebrated at Westminster Cathedral and at the Royal Gala Dinner held at Stationers’ Hall in London on Friday 21 October 2011.
London, October 2011. In a message from Buckingham Palace addressed to the Council and chaplains of the Constantinian Order’s Delegation in Great Britain and Ireland, The Queen Elizabeth II sends message to the Constantinian Order in accepting a message of Loyal Greetings from the Delegation sent her warm good wishes on the occasion of the Order’s annual Investiture Mass and Royal Gala dinner.
“The Queen was pleased to receive your kind message of loyal greetings, sent on behalf of the members and chaplains of the Delegation Council in Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George on the occasion of your Annual Mass in Westminster Cathedral and your Royal Gala Dinner in Stationers’ Hall.”
“Her Majesty much appreciates your thoughtfulness in writing as you did and, in return, sends her warm good wishes to all concerned for a most memorable day.”
The message was read out at the Investiture Mass celebrated at Westminster Cathedral and at the Royal Gala Dinner held at Stationers’ Hall in London on Friday 21 October 2011.
Gala Dinner at the Campus Bio Medico Rome, 18 October 2011. A Gala Dinner at the Campus Bio Medico in Rome was sponsored by The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, in the context of charitable initiatives on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 7:30 pm.
H.R.H. Prince Charles and Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke and Duchess of Castro, will be presiding this important event to which will also take part many Constantinian Knights and Dames from all over Italy.
Rome, 19 October 2012. Clarification about the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in regards of the publication by the Vatican Secretariat of State.
