Vatican City, May 2, 2018 / 08:35 am
Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre was elected Wednesday the 80th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, a position usually held for life. Dalla Torre's predecessor, Matthew Festing, resigned from the position in 2017.
The election took place May 2, and was conducted by the 54 members of the Council Complete of State, the electing body of the order. Pope Francis was informed of the election result by letter.
Dalla Torre has been interim grand master since April 2017. His appointment to that position was part of ongoing reform of leadership after Festing, the Knights' former grand master, Matthew Festing, resigned on Jan. 24, 2017.
He will take his oath as Grand Master May 3, before the pope's special delegate to the Order of Malta, Archbishop Angelo Becciu, and before the members of the Council Complete of State in the monastery church of the Priory of the Knights of Malta.