Order of Malta’s Former Chancellor Calls for Unity, Expresses Concerns Over Francis Reform

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The former grand chancellor of the Order of Malta has written a letter to members calling for unity while also expressing concern over the new constitution promulgated by Pope Francis.

Newsroom (06/10/2022 10:35 PM Gaudium Press) — Albrecht von Boeselager asked members not to abandon the Church or the Order of Malta in a letter sent to all the confreres.

Instead, the former grand chancellor called for unity at this challenging time for the order.

“Certainly, the foreseeable future will not be easy for the order and for us as members,” Boeselager wrote.

“I cannot imagine that the new Constitution issued by the Holy Father will be helpful for the development of our Order’s charism, the strengthening of our spirituality and the growth of the Order’s works.”

Boeselager added that he has “received many messages from members of the order who are questioning their continued membership after the recent decisions. I would like to ask everyone to stay. Especially now, it will be important to prove our faithfulness to the charism of the order, to the service of the faith and of those in need. That is why we joined the order. The order will survive this crisis, as it has many others.”

In the missive, dated “September 2022,” Boeselager wrote he was responding to many letters of encouragement he had received. He said he wanted to assure everyone he was well and thank members of the Sovereign Council and other officials.

Boeselager also noted that “many have also expressed to me their great disappointment in the Holy Father — they could no longer regard him as the father he promised to be for the Order.”

He also said, “some, from different parts of the world, have even written to me that they are considering leaving the Catholic Church.”

“That cannot be the right reaction either,” the German wrote.

“The Holy Father’s decision may be unjustified and unhelpful to the order. This does not alter the fact that he, as the successor of Peter, is the rock upon which God continues to build the Church, even if individual decisions are wrong.”

Boeselager’s missive came at a difficult moment of transition for the Order of Malta.

On Sept. 3, Pope Francis dismissed the Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta, promulgated the new constitution, and summoned a general chapter for Jan. 25, 2023. 

Boeselager was dismissed from his position of grand chancellor, too. Ironically, some say the crisis of the Order of Malta began with his re-installation as grand chancellor of the Order of Malta.

– Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA

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