: The Grand Chancellor and the Grand Hospitaller
: gave a press conference on Thursday,
: February 2. They announced that, "The
: election of the Grand Master’s successor
: will take place within the next three
: months, as provided for in the Constitution
: of the Order of Malta. The Lieutenant ad
: interim, Fra’ Ludwig Hoffmann von
: Rumerstein, will convene the Council
: Complete of State, the electing body, which
: is made up of an international
: representation of members of the Order. They
: will meet in the Order’s Magistral Villa in
: Rome."
Given that the Pope has now seized complete control of the Order with the evident connivance of both these men, the post of 'Grand Master' would now seemed to be rendered somewhat shambolic as is the Order's supposed sovereignty. 900 years of history seems to have come to an end. The once proud Sovereign Order has effectively been reduced to just another Catholic Order among many with the Vatican in complete control.
