In his letter, published Feb. 4, Pope Francis said Becciu will be “my exclusive spokesman” in in everthing relating to relations between the Order and the Vatican.
“I delegate to you, then, all the necessary powers to determine any issues that may arise concerning the implementation of the mandate entrusted to you.”
The appointment of Becciu falls shorly after Festing’s Jan. 24 resignation from his position as Grand Master at the request of Pope Francis, and the reinstatement of ousted leader Albrecht von Boeselager as Grand Chancellor.
Festing’s resignation marked the end of a month-long power struggle between the Order of Malta and the Holy See, which began with Boeselager’s forced dismissal from both his position, and his membership in the Order, in early December.
The Holy See then intervened, establishing a committee to investigate the decision. When the Order refused to cooperate with the argument that the decision to dismiss Boeselager was an “internal act of governance” and therefore the Holy See’s investigative group was “legally irrelevant” given the Order’s sovereignty, the Holy See responded Jan. 17 by reiterating its confidence in the group and its work.
Shortly after that Festing was called in for a private meeting with the Pope and was asked to resign. Three days later the Order’s Sovereign council voted to accept Festing’s resignation and named Grand Commander Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein as “lieutenant ad interim” until a new Grand Master is elected.
Boeselager, whose brother Georg von Boeselager was appointed a member of the Board of Superintendents of the IOR Dec. 15, was also reinstated as Grand Chancellor.
In a letter to Rumerstein and members of the Sovereign Council, the Pope said he would eventually be appointing a special delegate to oversee “spiritual renewal of the Order, specifically of its professed members.”
The “Council Complete of State” to elect a new Grand Master must be held within three months of the former’s resignation or death.
Though no dates have yet been set, at a Feb. 2 news conference highlighting the Order’s priorities in the aftermath of the crisis, Boeselager told journalists the council is expected to take place in late April.
The Order of Malta is a chivalric order which was founded in 1099, originally to provide protection and medical care to Holy Land pilgrims. It now performs humanitarian work throughout the world, and its two principle missions are defense of the faith and care for the poor.
It maintains sovereignty, holding diplomatic relations with more than 100 states and United Nations permanent observer status.
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