President Emeritus Guido de Marco yesterday said he was saddened by the loss of his friend Fra Andrew Bertie, the 78th Prince and Grandmaster of the Knights of Malta, who died in Rome on Thursday.
"We were close and ours was a friendship that went beyond the official relationship," he said when contacted.
Prof. de Marco first met Fra Bertie more than 20 years ago, just before the latter was elected to lead the 900-year-old charitable Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.
The last time the two spent time together was in September, when Prof. de Marco spent a week as Fra Bertie's guest at the Castel Maggiore in Umbria.
"The Grandmaster was a humble person who aspired to be a real gentleman and who succeeded. He was saintly in his behaviour and a wonderful person to have as a friend," he said.
Prof. de Marco described Fra Bertie as a wise man with a humble heart; a person with great knowledge, who expressed himself without any pomp.
"Knowing him and having discussions with him was a pleasure. Not knowing him is something many have missed, and knowing him is something I treasure," he said.
Prof. de Marco said that under Fra Bertie's guidance, the Order had moved forward, especially in the aspect of serving the poor and the sick, heightening the service of the Order.
Fra Bertie was elected to lead the Order in a secret conclave in 1988, and is credited with modernising the group's humanitarian programmes, increasing membership and extending its reach in troubled and far-flung regions.
The Order 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 Fr 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 della Torre, was sworn in as interim head of the group until a new grand master is elected.
The Embassy of the Order issued a statement informing the public that a condolence book will be open for signing at St John's Cavalier, Ordnance Street, Valletta, between tomorrow and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2.30 to 4.30 p.m.