Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti
Encyclopedia
Fra' Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti (born in 1941) is the current Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and as such he is the religious superior of the professed knights and of the knights and dames in obedience.
, the son of Don Filippo Rinaldo Hercolani Fava Simonetti and D. Francesca Cangini. He is the grandson of Count Antonio Hercolani Fava Simonetti, who was Lieutenant Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1951 to 1955. His grandfather married Marianna Ghislieri Fava Simonetti, a descendant of the Simonetti from Ancona
(Princes of Musone). In November 2008 he received the medal of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
.
. He is also responsible for the Magistral Palace Chapel.
Biography
He was born in BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, the son of Don Filippo Rinaldo Hercolani Fava Simonetti and D. Francesca Cangini. He is the grandson of Count Antonio Hercolani Fava Simonetti, who was Lieutenant Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1951 to 1955. His grandfather married Marianna Ghislieri Fava Simonetti, a descendant of the Simonetti from Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
(Princes of Musone). In November 2008 he received the medal of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
.
Order of Malta
Fra' Gherardo joined the order in 1963 and became a Knight of Justice in 1977. In 1986 he was elevated to the rank of Bailliff Grand Cross of Justice. He was the Councillor to the Sovereign Council between 1978 and 1983, subsequently the Grand Prior of Lombardy and Venetia between 1984 and 1994, Member of the Sovereign Council from 2006 to 2009, and also the President of the Order’s Pilgrimages from 2007 to 2009. He was elected Grand Commander of the Chapter General in 2009. Currently he is responsible for spreading the principles of the Faith, the supervision of the Priories and Subpriories and the creation of reports for the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. He is also responsible for the Magistral Palace Chapel.