Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta

The Sovereign Council of the Sovereign Order of Malta (full title: Sovereign Knight and Hospital Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta ) supports the Grand Master in the government of the Order.

composition

The members of the Sovereign Council, with the exception of the Grand Master or the Governor , are elected by the General Chapter with a simple majority.

The Sovereign Council includes:

the Grand Master or the governor who presides over it;
the holders of the four high offices :
- the Grand Commander ,
- the Grand Chancellor ,
- the large hospitalier ,
- the Common Treasury receptor ;
another six members.
- On June 8, 2009 the General Chapter elected for 5 years:
  - Carlo d'Ippolito di Sant'Ippolito until December 6, 2011, successor Gian Luigi Magliocco di Brugneto
  - John T. Dunlap
  - Duncan Gallie
  - Emmanuel Rousseau
  - Antonio Sanchez-Corea Jr.
  - Winfried Count Henckel von Donnersmarck
- On May 31, 2014, the General Chapter elected for 5 years:
  - John E. Critien
  - John T. Dunlap
  - Duncan Gallie
  - Emmanuel Rousseau
  - Winfried Henckel von Donnersmarck
  - Geoffrey D. Gamble

The four high offices and four of the six other council members must be knights of honor or gratitude and devotion. The Grand Commander and at least four other council members must be professed knights.

tasks

The Sovereign Council is convened by the Grand Master and meets at least six times a year, and in addition, if special circumstances make this appear necessary, usually at the seat of the Order in Rome . The Sovereign Council can also convene itself with an absolute majority.

Certain acts of the Grand Master require the consent of the Sovereign Council. In cases in which the Grand Master is bound by the cooperative decision-making of the Sovereign Council, he cannot issue a decree that deviates from the decision, but on the other hand is not obliged to issue a decree corresponding to the decision of the Council. The resignation of the Grand Master must also be accepted by the Sovereign Council.