Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
Official Order
Royal Deputation of the Constantinian Order, the Catholic chivalric order of ancient origins, now under the Grand Magistry of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, which promotes faith, charity and social commitment inspired by Christian values.
The Royal Deputation is the collegial, consultative organ of the Order, with which the Grand Master or the Grand Prefect may consult on questions or problems of particular importance.
H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, sister of the Grand Master, has been a Dame Grand Cross of Justice since December 1978 by motu proprio of her august parent H.R.H. Prince Ferdinando, of revered memory. As part of the renewal of the Government of the Dynastic Orders, H.R.H. the Grand Master appointed her as Grand Chancellor on 13th June 2014 by Motu Proprio, and then on 14th May as Grand Prefect.
“The Grand Prefect is the highest authority of the Order after the Grand Master and mormaly represents the latter in the event of absence.” (Article I of Chapter VII of the Order’s Statutes).
For the first time in the history of the Constantinian Order and of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, a woman takes up a governmental office within the Grand Magistry: a sign of renewal and forward-looking intuition of H.R.H. the Grand Master both in terms of a greater involvement of the members of the Royal Family and in terms of a fitting adjustment to the customs of modern times which rightly recognize the important role of women in society.
Speaking as Grand Chancellor at the first Collegial Meeting (Rome, 12-14 September 2014), H.R.H. Princess Beatrice in fact stated:
“As a woman this nomination gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to all the women of our Family who have always shown great courage and who, discreetly, have been at the origin of many important decisions and initiatives”. The prerogatives of the Grand Chancellor also include the coordination of the Delegates who preside over the Delegations of Knights and Dames in Italy and in the rest of the world, and for this reason H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, in the same speech, reiterated as follows: “Concerning the admission of new members to the Order, there is need for the Delegates to assume greater responsibility: you must only introduce people with whom you are personally well acquainted and with whom you socialize, involving the candidates in the life and activities of the Delegation for a reasonable length of time before they can aspire to be introduced as potential members of the Order. You must in advance understand the reasons which spur the candidate to wish to approach the Order and make sure that they are compatible with the finalities set down in our Statutes. Together with the other High Dignitaries it has been decided that the Knights must necessarily be resident in the Delegation into which they are introduced. To be a Delegate of the Order is certainly an honour, but it is equally a duty which requires not only an attachment to the Sacred Constantinian Military Order, which you certainly do not lack, but also commitment and often sacrifice. Therefore please evaluate through a fair and honest analysis your willingness to fulfil not only your duties as Knights but also that of wanting and being able to assume your own duties as a Delegate”.
H.R.H. Princess Beatrice who, together with H.R.H. the Duchess of Castro, is the inspiration behind the humanitarian and welfare assistance of the Constantinian Order, is the mother of His Imperial Highness the Prince Napoleon,Head of the Imperial House of France and Vice President of the Royal Deputation.
His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Marcello Semeraro
His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Marcello Semeraro enters the Order on 1 November 2022 and has become Grand Prior on April 23 2023. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Albano, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, was born in Monteroni di Lecce on 22 December 1947 and was ordained a priest on 8 September 1971.
Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Albano, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, was born in Monteroni di Lecce on 22 December 1947. He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1971. He received his initial training at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia Pius XI in Molfetta and subsequently completed his theological studies at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate and Doctorate in Sacred Theology. He then taught dogmatic theology at the Pugliese Theological Institute and later ecclesiology at the Faculty of Theology of the P.U.L. He was elected to the bishopric of Oria on 25 July 1998. He was transferred to the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano on 1 October 2004 until 15 October 2020, when he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints by Pope Francis.
He is currently also Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Territorial Abbey of St. Mary of Grottaferrata and Pontifical Delegate of the Italian Basilian Order. Over the years, he has served as Special Secretary of the 10th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World. He participated as a papal appointee in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World; in the XV Ordinary General Assembly on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment; and in the Special Assembly for the Pan-Amazon Region in 2019. President of the Regional Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, Proclamation and Catechesis of the Episcopal Conference of Lazio; Member of the CEI Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, Proclamation and Catechesis; President of the Board of Directors of ‘Avvenire – Nuova Editrice SpA’. Member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Dicastery for Communication; Consultor to the Congregation for Oriental Churches. On 13 April 2020, he was appointed secretary of the “Council of Cardinals to assist the Holy Father in the government of the Universal Church and to study a project for the revision of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia”.
He has published several books, articles and dictionary entries on ecclesiology. On 15 October 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Pope Francis created and proclaimed him Cardinal in the Consistory of 28 November 2020, of the Diaconate of Santa Maria in Domnica. He is a member of the Dicasteries for the Oriental Churches, for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and for Communication. ‘The Grand Prior has spiritual oversight of the Order, coordinates the Ecclesiastical Knights in their participation in the life of the Order, and has direct supervision over the organisation of all religious functions’ (Article IV of Chapter VII of the Statutes of the Constantinian Order).
H.E. Prince Don Francesco Ruspoli, Prince of Cerveteri
He is Knight Grand Cross of Justice, and has been appointed as Grand Chancellor of the Order on 14th May 2016, the Solemnity of the Eve of Pentecost. “The Grand Chancellor maintains custody of the protocols and Decrees of the Order together with the Knights nominations, Archives, publications, rules and bulletins.
He addresses correspondence, countersigns the decrees of nomination, organizes all the ceremonies of the Order and maintains custody of the Labarum of the Order. In the absence of the Grand Master or the Grand Prefect he represents the Order.” (Article III of Chapter VII of the Constantinian Order’s Statutes).
He works as a manager for the first investment bank in Italy, having worked for a long period in London and Paris .
H.E. Don Gian Carlo dei Principi Rocco di Torrepadula
Don Giancarlo dei Principi Rocco di Torrepadula was born in Rome by Don Alfonso and Donna Eloisa Perrella. He is a Knight Grand Cross of Justice, and by Decree dated 23 May 2016, H.R.H. the Grand Master, Duke of Castro, appointed him Grand Treasurer.
The Grand Treasurer is responsible for safeguarding and managing the Order’s assets; all measures involving financial expenditure must be approved in advance by the Grand Treasurer
(Article III of Chapter VII of the Order’s Statutes).
He married in 1970 with Lady Isabella of the Counts of Thiene, daughter of Giangiacomo Count of Thiene and Countess Maria Teresa of Valmarana Conti, with whom he has three children.
A law graduate, has played all his professional experiences in the Pirelli Group , in the areas of economic studies, communication, advertising, marketing. In 2008, he decided to retire in order to devote himself full-time to his own interests.
HRH Prince Casimiro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
His Royal Highness Prince Napoleon
H.R.H. Princess Anna of Bourbon Two Sicilies
H.R.H. Prince Francesco of Bourbon Two Sicilies
H.R.H. Prince Gennaro of Bourbon Two Sicilies
H.R.H. Prince Luigi Alfonso of Bourbon Two Sicilies
H.R.H. Prince Alessandro Enrico of Bourbon Two Sicilies
H.R.H. Prince Laurent of Belgium
H.I.R.H. ArchDuke Martino d’Asburgo d’Este
H.S.H. Prince and Duke Pierre d’Arenberg
H.S.H. Prince Charles Henri de Lobkowicz
H.E. Don Francesco dei Principi Sanseverino dei Baroni di Marcellinara
Count Raffaele Leonetti di Santo Janni
Prince Piero Colonna di Paliano
The Royal Deputation: provides opinions and suggestions on the general organisation of all civil and religious works in accordance with the Order’s purpose; proposes any amendments to the Statutes to the Grand Master; may make proposals for appointments. (Art. II of the Statutes of the Constantinian Order).
Article III of the same statutes then stipulates that: ‘For urgent measures, a Presidential Council shall be established within the Royal Deputation, composed of the High Officers, the President and the Secretary.’
Finally, Article IV and Article V regulate the functions of the President of the Royal Deputation: ‘The powers of the President of the Royal Deputation are, by express will of the Grand Master: to convene and preside over meetings; to ensure that the decisions taken are carried out’ and ‘In the event of the President’s absence or incapacity, the most senior Vice-President shall assume his functions’.
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