The Prince of Monaco Knight of the Collar of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

The Investiture ceremonies of the dynamic Lieutenancy for Monaco were presided over by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, on October 1 and 2, in the presence of Msgr. Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco and Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy, who was in charge of the homily during the vigil of arms. Prince Albert II – who attended the Investiture mass in Monaco’s cathedral on October 2 – received the Cardinal in his palace, accompanied by Governor General Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Chancellor Alfredo Bastianelli, Lieutenant for Monaco Dr. Hubert Perrin and members of a small delegation of the Order.

The Sovereign conducted an informative meeting, after which he spoke with the Grand Master, before the latter presented him with the insignia of “Knight of the Collar” of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, as a sign of gratitude for the activities carried out in the Holy Land by the Principality of Monaco. In turn, Prince Albert conferred on Cardinal Filoni a high honor of the Order of Grimaldi.

The visit was also marked by the delivery of a check in support of the Order’s projects and a lunch in the Palace gardens. We will describe this historic meeting extensively in our annual magazine, The Jerusalem Cross, to be published next spring.

(October 2021)