Catholic & Inter-faith Activities
Dignitatis Humanae Institute
The Constantinian Order has donated ten thousand pounds in 2013 to the Dignitatis Humanae Institute for its 2014 programme.
The Dignitatis Humanae Institute is an international response to the rising militant anti-Christian secularism seen throughout the West today. It exists to promote the Gospel in the political sphere, through upholding and strengthening the Judaeo-Christian tenets of Western culture, always with respect and tolerance for those of different faith. It is inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and is ecumenical in composition. His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order is the Honorary President of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute and the Order’s Grand Master HRH The Duke of Castro is one of the Patrons. To read more about the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, click here.
Serbia and Montenegro
Between 2004-2009, through the personal generosity of several knights of the British & Irish Delegation, several hundred thousand pounds were donated to the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgrade, Serbia. HE Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, Apostolic Nuncio, accepted the Delegation’s support that was given to the ‘Path to Peace in the Balkans’ fund to support high-level inter-faith and inter-church initiatives in the former war-torn Balkan nation. A substantial part of the donation also funded the complete restoration of the Apostolic Nunciature.
This financial and moral support included the funding of ‘The Holy See and The Crisis in Kosovo’ in Serbian, English and Albanian which explained the precise role of Pope John Paul II and the Holy See during the recent war in the former Yugoslavia. This publication proved extremely valuable in illustrating the positive and constructive role which the Holy See played throughout the crisis and was warmly received from Orthodox, Muslim, civil and governmental leaders in the country.
Interfaith Dialogue Missions to Middle East
During 2004, the Royal Order of Francis I, together with its sister order, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, led a high level interfaith dialogue delegation to Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. The delegation was headed by the Order’s then Grand Prefect, HRH The Duke of Castro and undertook a series of important engagements in each country including interfaith dialogue seminars between Christian and Muslim leaders and visits to key Christian and Islamic places of worship in each country.
Pilgrimages
The Constantinian Order and Royal Order of Francis I financially supports and its members volunteer with the transportation and support of the sick and infirm to pilgrimage sites including Lourdes, San Giovanni Rotondo – the tomb of the canonized Saint and capuchin friar, Padre Pio da Pietrelcina and in 2015 to the Tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy. During past pilgrimages, the Order supported a large group of disabled children from across Italy who visited many of the sites associated with the stigmata saint and participated in numerous prayer sessions and masses.
Other organisations and funds that have been supported by the Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland include:
- Missio, the Catholic Church’s official charity for overseas mission
- St Joseph’s Parish Church, Gibraltar