VATICAN CITY, NOV 4, 2005 (VIS) - In New York on November 9, His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Andrew Bertie, prince and grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, will receive the Path to Peace award, conferred each year by the foundation of the same name in recognition of outstanding individual leadership in the international community. The president of the foundation is Archbishop Celestino Migliore, apostolic nuncio and Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations.
A communique made public today explains that the prize has been given to the grand master "in recognition of his exemplary charitable works." Fra' Andrew Bertie was elected in 1988 as the 78th prince and grand master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. More commonly referred to as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, it is a lay religious order of the Catholic Church, formally recognized by Pope Paschal II in 1113, and is the fourth oldest religious order of the Church.
The communique continues: "The motto of the order is 'Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum,' that is, to defend the faith and to serve the poor. Gradually the order took on a military function, and became one of the most advanced fighting and naval forces in the world. As the need for military force was diminished, the order focused its attention to better serving the poor and the sick throughout the world. Currently, there are over 10,000 knights and dames worldwide engaged in charitable works. The Order of Malta sends millions of dollars worth of food, medicine, and relief supplies around the world each year."
As Grand Master, Prince Bertie oversees the numerous international charitable activities of the order, which now has observer status at the United Nations.
DELSS/PATH TO PEACE FOUNDATION/UN:MIGLIORE VIS 20051104 (320)
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