Pope Leo XIV has received in private audience Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and the Grand Master of the Order, Fra’ John Timothy Dunlap, in a meeting held this Thursday in the Vatican.
The meeting takes place at a time marked by reports pointing to possible changes in the Order’s leadership, in the midst of the reform process initiated in recent years.
A meeting amid the reform process
Cardinal Ghirlanda was appointed in 2023 by Pope Francis as patron of the Order of Malta, tasked with accompanying its institutional restructuring.
His profile, linked to the legal field, has been closely tied to this transitional stage within a unique institution due to its dual character: religious and sovereign.
Roche, a heavyweight name within the Order
The audience coincides with reports placing Cardinal Arthur Roche, current prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, as a possible successor to Ghirlanda.
Roche is no stranger to the Order of Malta: he has been a member since 2016 and maintains a consolidated relationship with its current leadership, especially with the Grand Master, Fra’ John Dunlap.
That connection became especially visible in 2023, when he received one of the Order’s highest distinctions, which strengthens his profile as a possible candidate in case of replacement.
A possible move within curial logic
The position of patron of the Order of Malta acts as a link between the Holy See and this institution, safeguarding its ecclesial identity and its communion with the Church.
In the past, this post has been occupied by cardinals after leaving more significant responsibilities in the Curia, which has led some to interpret Roche’s possible transfer within that institutional dynamic.
For the moment, there is no official confirmation from the Vatican regarding changes in the Order’s patronage.
A key institution in the international framework
The Sovereign Order of Malta maintains a relevant international presence, with diplomatic activity and extensive humanitarian work, which makes any movement in its structure a matter of special interest within the ecclesial sphere.
The meeting with the Pope fits into the usual relationship between the Holy See and the Order, although the current context adds significance to the audience.