#festing

Fra’ Matthew Festing, British-born Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, laid to rest after Requiem in Valletta

Fra’ Matthew Festing, the 79th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, has been laid to rest following a funeral in Valletta. A mighty clap of thunder heralded the arrival of the coffin of Fra’ Matthew as it reached the massive doors of St John’s Co-Cathedral in the Maltese capital. The organ echoed the sound as 250 mourners from around the world rose as one and stood to attention. The…

RIP Fra’ Matthew Festing (1949-2021)

On Friday, the Grand Magistry of the Order of Malta announced the death of Fra’ Matthew Festing, the 79th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, who died in Malta, aged 71. Elected in March 2008, the charismatic Amplefordian served as Grand Master until January 2017 after being forced to resign by the Vatican in controversial circumstances after a well-publicised power struggle with the…