On 8 November, Fra’ Marco Luzzago was elected with a large majority Lieutenant of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta. He was elected by the Council Complete of State of the Sovereign Order of Malta at the Magistral Villa in Rome, one of the Order of Malta’s two institutional seats. Fra’ Marco Luzzago was elected to replace the previous Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, who died on 29 April last. Participants came to Rome from all over the world: Argentina, Peru, USA, Lebanon, France, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Malta and Italy.

The newly elected head of the Sovereign Order of Malta swore his oath before the members of the Council Complete of State and the Pope’s Special Delegate, cardinal-designate Silvano Maria Tomasi.

The Pope was informed by letter of the election of the Order of Malta’s the Lieutenant of the Grand Master. Subsequently all the Order of Malta’s Grand Priories, Sub-Priories and National Associations worldwide were informed, together with the 110 states with which the Sovereign Order of Malta entertains diplomatic relations.

After the elections, the Lieutenant of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta addressed the members of the Council Complete and assured them that he would do his utmost to ensure that the drafting of the Order’s new Constitution and Code would be successfully implemented.

About Fra’ Marco Luzzago

Fra’ Marco Luzzago was born in 1950 in Brescia. He completed a scientific high school degree at the institute of the Franciscans in Brescia and then studied medicine for several years at the Universities of Padua and Parma.

Later, Fra’ Marco Luzzago was asked to manage his family’s property interests. This led on to business activities in the consumer industry and large-scale retail distribution, an area in which he continued to be involved in for many years.

Fra’ Marco joined the Sovereign Order of Malta in 1975 in the Grand Priory of Lombardy and Venice and took his Solemn religious Vows in 2003. Since 2011, Fra’ Marco Luzzago has been Commander of Justice in the Grand Priory of Rome, where he holds the position of Delegate of the Northern Marches and head of the library.

Role of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master

According to the Order of Malta’s Constitution, the Lieutenant of the Grand Master remains in office for one year with the same powers as the Grand Master. Before the end of his mandate, the Lieutenant of the Grand Master has to reconvene the Council Complete of State.

The Lieutenant of the Grand Master must be dedicated to the Order and be an example to its members. He has the supreme right of government in the Order. Together with the Sovereign Council, the Lieutenant of the Grand Master promulgates decrees and ratifies international agreements.

The Lieutenant of the Grand Master resides in Rome in Magistral Palace.