The Faculty of Theology will be hosting a public lecture entitled 'With staves and firearms: Relations between the Order of Malta and Church authorities across Europe at the turn of the 18th century'.
Speaker: Mr Adrian Scerri
Venue: Theology Board Room (Rm 317), University of Malta Msida Campus
Date: Wednesday 16 October 2019
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Chair: Rev. Dr John Berry
On 29 May 1681 the Sacra Rota had ruled in favour of the Archbishop of Toldedo, Cardinal Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero y de Guzman (1635-1709), obtained executorial letters. This in effect meant that the Archbishop had obtained jurisdiction over the religious that hitherto had answered only to the Order of St John. Neither the Grand Prior of Castille nor the Order’s ambassador in Madrid, Fra Villavincentio, were ready to accept these rulings. The ambassador appealed to the king of Spain and informed the Order’s ambassador in Rome. Relations took a turn for the worse when the Prior took matters in his own hands and the Archbishop responded with excommunication. This case study throws light on the delicate relations between the Church and the Order of St John, not only in Malta but across Europe.
The general public is cordially invited.
RSVP Ms Gillian Cachia on +356 2340 2767 or send an email to gillian.cachia@um.edu.mt.
Adrian Scerri, after graduating in Theology in 1997, obtained his Masters in the same in 2006, linking the passion of Greek tragedy with the depth of the Gospel of John. Deviating from his theological background he read for Masters in Hospitaller Studies, taking the career of Ambassador Fra Marcello Sacchetti as his area of specialization. He is currently working on the Order’s diplomacy in the late 17th and early 18th century for his doctorate, which he hopes to finish in 2020. Adrian is also a visiting lecturer with the Department of International Relations.