Order welcomes new Grand Master

The 49th Grand Master of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus, Don Carlos Gereda de Borbon, Marquis of Almazan, was recently installed as the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of the Castello at Torri Lanzun in Mensija, San Ġwann.

During the ecumenical service of installation, led by the Commander Chev. Geoff Fosberry, and also attended by the British High Commissioner, Louise Stanton, the Grand Master took the oath of office, while the members of the Grand Commandery reciprocated with a declaration of allegiance to the Grand Commander.

The Grand Master met with the Grand Priory of the Maltese islands led by the Grand Prior Jose Pace. This was the first visit to Malta by the Grand Master following his election in September 2008.

Based in Malta, the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus dates to the 11th century. The order is both international and ecumenical in character and gives humanitarian aid to many countries in the Third World, particularly to leprosy clinics.