The Order of Malta has announced the death of Fra’ Marco Luzzago, who had led the 1,000-year-old institution since 2020.
The order said that the 71-year-old died after a “sudden illness” at Villa Ciccolini in the Italian province of Macerata.
The Italian medical doctor, who was related to Pope St Paul VI, was elected as Lieutenant of the Grand Master on Nov. 8, 2020.
He was expected to serve for a one-year term ahead of the election of a new Grand Master of the order, a position traditionally held for life.
But his term was extended by Pope Francis amid a push to conclude a years-long process of constitutional reform.
The Pope launched the reform process in 2017 after he accepted the resignation of Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing.
Festing’s successor, Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguineto, died in April 2020 at the age of 75. Festing himself died in November 2021 aged 71.
The order said in its statement: “According to Article 17 of the Constitution of the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Grand Commander, Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas-Boas has assumed the functions of Lieutenant ad interim and will remain head of the Sovereign Order until the election of the new head of the Order.”
It added that information about the funeral of Fra’ Marco Luzzago would be released imminently.
(Photo courtesy of Vatican Media via Catholic News Agency)
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.