The Royal Commission for Italy of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George celebrated in Naples the liturgical memorial of its heavenly Patron with three significant events marked by faith, tradition, and charity.

The central moment took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in the Royal Basilica of Santa Chiara, with the Solemn Pontifical Mass in honor of Saint George, celebrated by the Order’s Prior for Italy, His Eminence Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Constantinian Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice, Protodeacon of the Holy Roman Church and Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. The august presence of the Grand Master, His Royal Highness Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta, Head of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies—who, following the sacred rite, presided over the traditional Ceremony of Investiture and Promotion, including the presentation of diplomas—conferred upon the celebration a character of the highest spiritual and institutional solemnity.

This annual observance represented a moment of intense communal participation for Knights, Dames, Chaplains, postulants, family members, friends, and guests of the Order, gathered in the historic and religious heart of Naples to renew their commitment to the glorification of the Cross, the propagation of the Faith, and the defense of the Holy Roman Church.

The program of celebrations also included the Charity Gala Dinner, held on Friday, April 24, in the presence of the Grand Master at the Circolo Nazionale dell’Unione, with net proceeds designated for the “House of Peace ‘Don Tonino Bello’” in Naples, as well as the Holy Mass celebrated on Sunday, April 26, in the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, the new Magisterial Seat of the Naples and Campania Delegation at the Oratory of the Most Holy Crucifix. During this Mass, the parish priest Father Salvatore Giuliano received from the hands of the Grand Master the insignia of Chaplain of Merit of the Constantinian Order.

Pontifical Mass in Honor of Saint George

Royal Basilica of Santa Chiara
Saturday, April 25, 2026

In the splendid setting of the Royal Basilica of Santa Chiara—symbolic site of the dynastic memory of the Bourbon-Two Sicilies and a spiritual heart of Neapolitan history—the Solemn Pontifical Mass in honor of Saint George took place.

Upon arrival, the Grand Master and the Prior for Italy were received by the Head Chaplain of the Naples and Campania Delegation, Fra’ Sergio Galdi d’Aragona, OFM, Chaplain of Justice; the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Naples, Fra’ Luigi Ortaglio, OFM, Chaplain de Jure Sanguinis with Gold Star; and the President of the Royal Commission for Italy, His Excellency Don Flavio Borghese, Prince of Sulmona and Montecompatri, Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice.

At the beginning of the sacred rite, the President of the Royal Commission delivered a greeting, recalling the mission of the Order and the duty of Knights and Dames to bear witness to Faith, Christian charity, and peace.

In his homily, the Prior for Italy recalled the foundations of the Constantinian charism, exhorting those present to prayer, Christian witness, defense of the Church, and works of mercy.

At the conclusion of the sacred rite, after the Prayer of the Constantinian Knight and the singing of the Regina Coeli, the Grand Master paid homage to the Royal Tombs by laying a laurel wreath at the Royal Sepulcher, while the Prior recited the prayers, sprinkling and incensing the site.

This was followed by the blessing of insignia and church mantles of the new Members of the Constantinian Order, the Investiture and Reception according to the ancient formulary of the Order, and the promotion of Knights, Dames, and Chaplains. In total, there were 180 new admissions and promotions: 146 Knights, 19 Dames, and 15 Chaplains. The Grand Master also presented merit diplomas to 25 new recipients.

Approximately 850 people attended the celebration, including Knights, Dames, Chaplains, postulants, family members, friends, and guests of the Order. Representatives of the Royal Deputation, the Royal Commission for Italy, various Delegations, the Commission of the Kingdom of Spain, and the Royal Commission of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino were also present.

Charity Gala Dinner

Circolo Nazionale dell’Unione
Friday, April 24, 2026

On Friday, April 24, at 8:30 p.m., the Charity Gala Dinner took place at the prestigious Circolo Nazionale dell’Unione in the presence of the Grand Master and the Prior for Italy.

The net proceeds of the evening were allocated to the “House of Peace ‘Don Tonino Bello’” in Naples, an institution indicated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, who had received the Grand Master in private audience earlier that afternoon at the Archiepiscopal Palace.

The House of Peace, hosted within the Parish of Saints John and Paul, provides shelter for mothers with children in difficulty, offering them a protected, family-like environment in which to begin paths of independence, recovery, and social reintegration. On the afternoon of April 25, the Grand Master also had the opportunity to visit the facility.

During the evening, after a brief introduction by the Grand Master, the President of the Royal Commission read his message, recalling his deep ties to Naples, the recent establishment of the new Magisterial Seat at the Oratory of the Most Holy Crucifix in the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, and the numerous charitable and cultural initiatives promoted in the Campania region.

Following a short presentation video about the House of Peace, speeches were given by the parish priest Father Salvatore Melluso, director of the facility, Sister Marisa Pitrella, Director of Caritas for the Archdiocese of Naples, and a migrant mother with her child, residents of the House.

Approximately 180 people attended the Gala Dinner.

Holy Mass

Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore
Sunday, April 26, 2026

On Sunday, April 26, at 11:00 a.m., a solemn Holy Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore in the presence of the Grand Master, accompanied by the Grand Chancellor of the Royal Deputation, the President of the Royal Commission for Italy, and the Delegate for Naples and Campania.

The Mass was presided over by the parish priest Father Salvatore Giuliano, with concelebration by the Head Chaplain of the Naples and Campania Delegation, Fra’ Sergio Galdi d’Aragona.

On this occasion, Father Giuliano received from the Grand Master the insignia of Chaplain of Merit of the Constantinian Order.

The celebration held particular significance in light of the authorization granted on April 10, 2026, by Cardinal Battaglia for the establishment of the new Magisterial Seat of the Delegation within the Oratory of the Most Holy Crucifix at the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, followed by the decree issued by the Grand Master on April 14.

The Mass, enriched by the participation of numerous children, provided a moment of living catechesis and the transmission of Christian values to younger generations. The Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, among the oldest sacred sites in Naples, is thus destined to assume a renewed central role in the spiritual activities of the Constantinian Order.

Visits of the Grand Master

During his stay in Naples for the 2026 Pontifical celebration in honor of Saint George, the Grand Master was received in private audience by Cardinal Domenico Battaglia on April 24, visited the Royal Company and Archconfraternity of the White-clad of the Holy Spirit and the House of Peace “Don Tonino Bello” on April 25, and the Real Monte Manso di Scala Foundation on April 26.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PONTIFICAL MASS:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHARITY GALA DINNER:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MASS AT THE CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI MAGGIORE: