London, June 2012. The Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, HRH The Duke of Castro, offers his sincere condolences to the family of His Excellency the Venerable Bailiff Frà Franz von Lobstein, Grand Prior Emeritius of the Order of Malta in Rome and longstanding member of the Constantinian Order.
His funeral took place on Tuesday 12 June 2012 during which many recalled the great moral and human qualities, combined with the spirit of service, recommended to the prayers of those who knew him. Frà Franz was born in Naples on June 25, 1921 by Baron Erwin von Lobstein from Virginia and the Barons Coppola Picazio. He graduated in law and literature and philosophy, was invested into the Order of Malta on 28 November 1962 and became a Professed Knight in Perpetual on 15 March 1978. He was appointed a member of the Sovereign Council between 12 November 1978 to 8 March 1989, and was elevated to the rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice on 12 January 1983. He served as Grand Prior of Rome from 9 May 1994 to 10 May 2006.
Frà Franz was an author of publications on the history of the kingdom of Naples who lectured on aristocratic monasticism in the Faculty of Arts University State University of Cassino.
Frà Franz was a Knight Grand Cross of the Pian Order, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Januarius, Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight of Justice of the Order of St. Stephen of Tuscany and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Anna. Requiscat in Pace.