Vatican City, Feb 4, 2017 / 04:38 am
Pope Francis has named Archbishop Giovanni Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State, as his personal delegate to oversee the "spiritual and moral" reform of the Order of Malta, with particular attention to the professed members.
In a letter to Becciu dated Feb. 2, the Pope named him "as my special delegate to the distinguished Order" of Malta, and emphasized that he will work in "strict collaboration" with the Order's interim leader, Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein.
The two of them, he said, must work for "greater good of the Order and for the reconciliation among all its components, religious and lay." Additionally, they will be responsible for developing together "a study in view of the appropriate spiritual renovation" of the Order's Constitution.
Pointing to Becciu's role in particular, Francis said he will be charged with caring for "everything related to the spiritual and moral renewal of the Order, especially the professed members," who number about 55 worldwide.