Late this morning, in the Church of Santa Maria in Aventino in Rome, the new Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ John T. Dunlap took the solemn oath, thus entering into the fullness of his powers. Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, Special Delegate of Pope Francis to the Order of Malta, and members of the Sovereign Council were present.

After the oath, the Grand Commander Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas-Boas imposed the collar on Fra’ John T. Dunlap.

At the conclusion of the brief ceremony, the State flag of the Sovereign Order of Malta was hoisted atop the Magistral Villa.

The first engagement of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master will be to preside over the Sovereign Council this afternoon.