The Sovereign Order of Malta (the
Knights of Malta) on Tuesday announced the death of the
Lieutenant of the Grand Master, Fra' Marco Luzzago, at the age
of 72.
The Grand Magistry announced, with deep sorrow, the return to
the Father's house of His Excellency the Lieutenant of the Grand
Master, Fra' Marco Luzzago, who passed away today at Villa
Ciccolini (Sforzacosta, Macerata province), following a sudden
illness.
According to Article 17 of the Constitution of the Sovereign
Order of Malta, the Grand Commander, Fra' Ruy Gonçalo do Valle
Peixoto de Villas-Boas has assumed the functions of Lieutenant
ad interim and will remain head of the Sovereign Order until the
election of the new head of the Order.
Fra' Marco Luzzago was elected head of the Sovereign Order of
Malta on 8 November 2020.
Born in 1950 in Brescia, Fra' Marco Luzzago, after completing
his studies at the institute of the Franciscans in Brescia,
studied medicine at the Universities of Padua and Parma. He was
then asked to manage his family's property interests.
He joined the Sovereign Order of Malta in 1975 in the Grand
Priory of Lombardy and Venice and took his Solemn religious Vows
in 2003. He began attending the Order of Malta's international
pilgrimages to Lourdes and the national pilgrimages to Assisi
and Loreto. From 2010 he dedicated his life completely to the
Order of Malta, moving to the Marche region to care for one of
the Order's Commanderies. From 2011 he was Commander of Justice
in the Grand Priory of Rome, where he held the position of
Delegate of the Northern Marche region and head of the library.
Between 2017 and 2020, he was Councillor of the Order of Malta's
Italian Association.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) runs a large
charity-hospital organization around the world, and has recently
provided humanitarian aid for countless refugees and migrants.
It has diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the
European Union, and permanent observer status at the United
Nations.
The Knights of Malta, as they are more widely known, were
founded on the Mediterranean island in the 11th century as a
military religious order like the Templars.
They were removed from Malta by Napoleon.
Headquartered in Palazzo Malta in Rome, their mission is
summed up in their motto: "Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum";
protecting the Catholic Church and serving those in need.
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