A New Governor General for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an order of knights that shares its history with that of the Crusades, back when knights were dubbed on Christ’s tomb.

When the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem was re-founded under Pope Pius IX, the order’s mission evolved. It now consists in supporting the cultual, charitable, cultural, and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, particularly those under the Latin Patriarchate.

By the decision of St. Pius X, the title of Grand Master goes to the pope himself. But Pius XII decided to institute a cardinal protector of the Order. The post is currently filled by Cardinal Edwin O’Brien who has just nominated a new Governor General in the person of Leonardo Visconti Di Modrone. The new Governor, who governs the Order on the practical level, will replace Agostino Borromeo, who served two consecutive terms.

Leonardo Visconti Di Modrone was born in Milan in 1947. He had a career in the Italian diplomacy, and served as head of diplomatic protocol for the Republic of Italy from 2010 to 2015. The new Governor General became a member of the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2014, before becoming its head on June 29.

In an interview with the official communications service of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the new governor voiced his desire to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. One of his tasks will be to prepare the “Consulta” – the equivalent of a General Chapter – that will be held in 2018, an assembly that will be attended by all the heads of the Order and that will draw up the new statutes.