Trieste – November 2003. In the Great Hall of the University of Trieste, Dr Polo di Gorizia, from the Faculty of Political Sciences, inaugurated a lecture on improving and updating International Law with regard to “Equestrian Orders of Knighthood: The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George”. The initiative is directed by Professor Gian Luigi Cecchini and co-ordinated by Franco Ciufo, both Constantinian knights.
The course provides for a detailed analysis of the evolution of the Grand Magistry of the Constantinian Order of St George, particularly through the study of historical-juridical profiles that have accompanied the life of the Constantinian Order. External pretensions exist on the Order which the competent Italian judicial authorities have already resolved in favour of the Order. The Italian Republic recognises the knighthoods given by the Order. The paper was addressed to alumni and graduates with the intention of deepening their knowledge regarding the relationship between International Law and Chivalric Orders – recognised militarily, and also their relationship to humanitarian interventions that they are called upon to undertake.
Other participants included: Prof Domenico Romeo, Rector of the University of Trieste; Prof Domenico Coccopalmerio, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science; Prof Gian Luigi Cecchini, Professor of International Law and other civil, military and religious authorities together with the numerous students enrolled in the course. The inaugural lecture by Cardinal Pompedda entitled “The Constantinian Order of St George in the International Order” aroused great interest among those researchers who attended and will be published together with the course materials of the University of Trieste.
Following the lecture, the Order’s Cardinal Grand Prior presided at a solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the Cathedral of Gorizia in the presence of the city Bishop HE Dino De Antoni.