THE DAY WE MET THE
GRAND MASTER
On 20 September, Sauro and Lilian Antonelli, and Gerard and Margaret O’Donnell were received by the Grand Master, Frá Giacomo Dalla Torre, at the Order of Malta headquarters in Rome. Dr Margaret O’Donnell DMG shares the experience in the place to call home.
F
rom the moment we first met the Grand Master, Frá Giacomo, we were delighted with the warmth of his welcome. He apologised for the fact that he did not speak very much English. He introduced us to Mauro Bertero Gutierrez, his personal aide and interpreter, although his official title was Consigliere Del Principe e Gran Maestro. We were served coffee and refreshments as Frá Giacomo expressed his delight at meeting with Australians. He explained that he really enjoyed welcoming Australians because he had been asked to visit Australia by a previous Grand Master, but at the time, circumstances had prevented this visit. He also had fond memories of meetings with Sir James Gobbo and Richard Divall, whom he admired greatly. The Grand Master was very interested in the activities of the Order in Australia. He was delighted to hear of the many opportunities we offer, as members of the Australian Order, for spiritual formation, as well as for charitable works. This includes the Lourdes Day Masses, Coats for the Homeless and Biography programs, the provision of palliative care through the Order’s partnership in Eastern Palliative Care, the Order’s work with the clinic in Timor-Leste. Throughout our hour-long conversation, which was remarkably relaxed, Mauro (and Sauro) translated the rapid Italian into English to allow Gerard and I to take part in the conversation. Mauro interjected on occasions. He was particularly keen to let us know that although Frá Giacomo was too humble to say it himself, the Order has in
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Giacomo, as its leader, a man of the people. This is encouraging, and gives us reason to be very hopeful that we can face the challenges that lie ahead. We asked Frá Giacomo what he sees as these important challenges. His reply was that the ‘immigration issue’ is one which we must all tackle – it is a worldwide issue, one which governments of all countries must debate and then decide on a way forward for the good of the refugees, migrants, and the world at large. Frá Giacomo’s passion for helping the marginalised was evidence of the fact that this man, similar to Pope Francis, is calling for us all to be proactive in finding a compassionate solution to the immigration problem. We also discovered that Frá Giacomo often slips out incognito at night to go and serve food at Rome’s soup kitchens for the homeless. As well as the immigration issue, the Grand Master talked passionately about the spiritual formation opportunities offered to members of the Order of Malta, as well as his desire to see greater numbers of women in the Order of Malta, and more women take on more active leadership roles within the Order. Towards the end of our visit, Frá Giacomo insisted on showing us around the beautiful building he calls home. He was adamant however, that it is not ‘his’ home but ‘our’ home. We came away delighted with our visit and impressed with the welcome extended to us by our Grand Master Frá Giacomo and his Personal Aide, Mauro Gutierrez – humble men – men of warmth, energy and with clarity of vision for the Order of Malta.
Left to Right: Grand Master Frá Giacomo Dalla Torre, Gerard O’Donnell, Lilian Antonelli, Sauro Antonelli, and Margaret O’Donnell.
2018 Australian Hospitaller
