On December 28, on behalf of H.R.H. the Duke of Calabria, HE the Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua , Secretary General of the Order ,attended the Solemn Ceremony of the Abbatial Blessing of Dom Pietro Vittorelli who has been appointed the 191th successor of Saint Benedict.The ceremony that took place amidst the beautiful background of the Abbey of Montecassino,was presided by His Eminence Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, Prefect of the Congregation of the Bishops who read the Pontifical Bull that proclaimed tha appointment of the new Archabbot.Dom Pietro Vittorelli after receiving from the Cardinal the Rule of Saint Benedict, the ring, the mitre and the pastoral, all symbols of the new pastoral responsibilities upon the monks and the congregation of the Dioceses of Cassino, officially took office in the Abbey of Montecassino.Following the celebration, during the Te Deum, the new Abbot walked along the nave of the basilica and gave the solemn blessing to everybody.Among those in attendance were HE the Senator Giulio Andreotti, Constantinian Knight of Grand Cross with Gold Medal, HE the Minister of Public Education Giuseppe Fioroni, Constantinian Knight of Grand Cross of Grace HE Rev. Mons. Bernardo Fabio D’Onorio predecessor of Dom Pietro Vittorelli and Archbishop of Capua and Constantinian Knight Commander of Merit Gianni Letta.

The ceremony was guided by the Deacon of the Pontifical Ceremonies our confrere Mons. Francesco Camaldo. Rev. Father Dom Pietro Vittorelli was born in Rome on 30 June 1962. He achieved the Liceo Scientifico Diploma in 1981 and graduated in Medicine and Surgery at University La Sapienza in Rome in 1989. Dom Vittorelli worked for several years at the Parish Church of San Vittore, he was member of the Italian Catholic Association where he had a very important role until he became the Diocesan President . On 24 September 1989 he entered the Abbey of Montecassino as a postulant and was ordained a priest in 1994. In 1997 he was appointed Master of Novices of the Congregation of the Monks of Monte Cassino. Since 1998 he has been among the organizers and promoters of the annual course for the Benedictines and member of the Commission for the promotion and support of the young Italian novices and postulants.

In 1994 he passed the qualifying examination for the medical profession and in 2003 was appointed by the Lazio Region, member of the Provincial Committee of Bioethics in Frosinone. From 1994 to 2004 he took part in the organization of the exhibitions on the occasion of Christ's two thousandth anniversary.

The humanitarian activities carried out by the Knights and Dames of the Sicilian Delegation of the Order have been very intense especially during the Christmas holidays . On 23 December, the Sicilian Delegation, on the occasion of the fourth Sunday of Advent organized a solemn mass presided by Rev. Mons. Salvatore Grimaldi, Constantinian Chaplain, in the beautiful church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Palermo built in the XII century. During the ceremony the Constantinian Knights and Dames of the Sicilian Delegation exchanged Christamas greetings and following the mass the Benemerenti medals were bestowed onto those who distinguished themselves for their humanitarian activities, in particular Madame Antonella Mortillaro who has carried out charity works, jointly with the Constantinian Order,in favor of the children who live in the “Quartiere Capo”, a disadvantaged area in Palermo.

The Vice delegate for Sicily, Dr Antonio di Janni, following the ceremony, read a message of greeting from H.R.H.the Grand Prefect to all the Knights and Dames of the Sicilian Delegation. On 28 December the Constantinian Knights and Dames of the Sicilian Delegation gathered together in the Constantinian Church of Saint George in Castell’ Umberto During the afternoon the Constantinian Chaplain Rev. Papas Lucini officiated the Holy Mass. Among those in attendance were the solicitor Alessandro Pruiti Ciarello, President of the Council of the Municipality of Castell’Umberto who communicated the intention of the Municipality to dedicate the area in front of the Church to His Late Eminence Mario Francesco Cardinal Pompedda

On 30 December the opening ceremony of the chapel dedicated to the Blessed Mother Teresa from Calcutta took place in the Church of Odigitria in Marina di Caronia. The chapel was built thanks to the donations of the Sicilian Knights and Dames of the Order, the ceremony and the blessing of the simulacrum of Mother Teresa were officiated by Rev. Don Antonio Cipriano, Constantinian Chaplain, in the presence of the Mayor of Marina di Caronia solicitor Giuseppe Collura. The Vice Delegate for Sicily Knight Commander of Grace Antonio di Janni attended the ceremony on behalf of the Delegate for Sicily, Don Lucio Bonaccorsi dei Principi di Reburdone, who unveiled the statue and the memorial tablet. Saturday 5 January the blessing ceremony of the ambulance donated to the Constantinian Cross onlus Association by the director of the AUSL6 Doctor Jacolino, took place in harbor of Palermo.

Among those in attendance were the President of the Constantinian Cross Onlus Association Constantinian Knight Francesco D’Alba, HE the Pefect Gianfranco Romagnoli, the Vice Delegate for Sicily Dr Antonio di Janni and Rev. Papas Luigi Lucini. The Constantinian Cross Onlus offers first aid services to the Stella Maris Association. in conclusion on 6 January the Vice Delegate donated a film library of 200 films for the children attending the recreation centre of the deanship of Marina di Caronia.

The members of the National Association of Constantinian Knights (A.N.C.C.I) met in Naples in the site of Santa Maria La Nova for the conventional annual assembly. During the meeting that was presided by the Count Raimondo Alessandro d’Aquino di Caramanico, the members of the Association discussed over many important themes. Among those in attendance were HE Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua, Secretary General of the Order , Don Landolfo Caracciolo di Melissano,

Count Giuseppe de Vargas Machuca, Marquis Gaetano Sersale, Don Vincenzo Scarano Ussani, Constantinian Knight Commander Marco Cecilia, Member of the Magisterial Juridical Council, dr Emiddio de Franciscis and Dr Eugenio Donadoni. Following the meeting, a delegation of Constantinian knights headed by HE Count d’Aquino di Caramanico paid a visit to the Archbishop of Naples His Eminence Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, Constantinian Bailiff knight of Grand Cross of Justice. The Constantinian Delegation presented to the Archbishop of Naples the greetings from H.R.H. the Duke of Castro and from Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Calabria.

During the afternoon the Secretary General of the Order, HE Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua and Knight Commander of Merit Marco Cecilia visited His Eminence the Archbishop Emeritus of Naples Michele Cardinal Giordano Constantinian Bailiff Knight of Grand Cross of Justice.