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Grand master of
Knights of Malta, Fra Andrew Bertie, dies at 78 |
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Fra Andrew Bertie, a descendant of Britain's royal Stuart family who was
grand master of the Knights of Malta, has died, the ancient lay Roman Catholic
order said Friday. He was 78.
Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie (May 15, 1929 - February 7, 2008) was the 78th (and first British) Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, serving for nearly 20 years from 1988 until his death. His full title was His Most Eminent Highness Fra Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Most Humble Guardian of the Poor of Jesus Christ. He was never married and had a younger brother. He was distantly related to Queen Elizabeth II. Bertie, who was the 78th grand master of the 900-year-old charitable order, died Thursday in a Rome clinic, the group said in a statement. No information on the cause of death was given. Bertie was elected to lead the order in a secret conclave in 1988. He is credited with modernizing the group's humanitarian programs, increasing membership as well as boosting diplomatic relations and extending its reach in troubled and far-flung regions, the statement said. Pope Benedict XVI sent his "heartfelt condolences" to the order, praising Bertie for his work and devotion. Officially known as the Sovereign Military Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, the group was founded with a pilgrims' hospice in 11th century Jerusalem and has the status of an independent state. It maintains diplomatic relations with 100 nations, increased from 49 at the start of Bertie's tenure. The Knights of Malta has 12,500 members and operates in 120 countries, providing medical and social services, particularly in war zones and impoverished areas.The grand commander of the order, Fra Giacomo dalla Torre, was sworn in as interim head of the group until a new grand master is elected, the statement said. In a telegram to dalla Torre, Benedict remembered the grand master as "an authoritative man of culture" and recalled his "generous commitment" to the needy as well as his "love for the Church." Elected for life, the grand master post carries the title of prince. The grand master must have 200 years of nobility on both parents' sides and must have followed vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. Bertie's father, James, worked as foreign exchange dealer at the stock exchange in London. His mother, Lady Jean Crichton-Stuart, was a descendant of the Stuarts, the ruling family of Scotland from 1371-1603 and of England and Scotland from 1603-1714, with an 11-year interruption in the 17th century. Born in London in 1929, Bertie joined the knights in 1956 and took his vows in 1981. He had also worked as a financial journalist and a language teacher. His body was to lie in state starting Friday afternoon in the church of Our Lady of the Priory, located in a historic complex owned by the order on Rome's Aventine hill. Information on survivors and funeral arrangements was not immediately available. |