Naples, January 2006. The Grand Prior of the Order, His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda, launched his book entitled The Christian origins of Europe in the cloister of the Basilica of Santa Maria The New. The book, which was published by Il Cerchio, was presented by Professor Francesco Casavola, Emeritus President of the Constitutional Court of the Italian Republic.
Numerous Italian and foreign ambassadors, who were in Naples for the launch of the Neapolitan Antenna of the Institute of Diplomatic Studies, attended the event. Other guests included representatives of Franciscan Friars, guardians of the Holy Land, and a number of Constantinian knights and dames including the Duchess Gloria Frezza, the Marquis and Marquise Mottola D’Amato and Eugenio Donadoni.
During his speech The Grand Prior expressed his support for a policy of peace, in accordance with the undertaking of Pope Benedict XVI as expressed by His Holiness in his annual message to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.