On Friday, 3 October 2025, the Delegation for the Most Serene Republic of San Marino of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George took part in the Eucharistic Celebration for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the Church of Saint Francis, located on Contrada San Francesco within the walls of the ancient City of San Marino.
The Holy Cross is a living, precious, and life-giving presence for every Christian. Though He was God, Christ humbled Himself and became a servant. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus—not a celebration of death, but of life’s victory over death, of salvation’s triumph over sin.
Together with the Feast of Saint George and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed during the pre-Christmas period, this feast constitutes one of the most important and deeply felt religious events for the Members of the Delegation. The true meaning of the Cross lies in the glorification of Christ through the suffering of the Cross; the paradox of suffering and glorification becomes central to the history of Redemption. Christ, incarnate in His concrete human and divine reality, voluntarily submitted to the humiliating condition of a slave (the cross—crux in Latin, meaning torment—was a punishment reserved for slaves), and this infamous instrument of torture was transformed into eternal glory. Thus, the Cross becomes both the symbol and the summary of the Christian faith.
The Feast of the Holy Cross does not exalt the cruelty of the Cross but rather the Love that God revealed to humanity by accepting death upon it. Though He was God, Christ humbled Himself and became a servant—this is the glory of the Cross of Jesus. For this reason, in modern times the celebration takes on a far deeper meaning than the simple, though wondrous, discovery of the Cross by Saint Helena, the pious mother of Emperor Constantine.
The celebration of the Holy Mass was presided over at 6:00 p.m. by Father Gabriele Mangiarotti, in the presence of His Excellency Fabrizio Colaceci, Ambassador of Italy to the Most Serene Republic of San Marino; Dr. Cesare Tabarrini, Delegate for the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Knight of Merit with Silver Star and member of the Royal Commission for San Marino; as well as Knights, Dames, postulants, family members, relatives, and guests.
The Adoring Sisters of the Most Blessed Sacrament led the Eucharistic Liturgy with their hymns. Since 2021, with the approval of the Mother Superior, the Delegation for the Most Serene Republic of San Marino has designated the Church of Saint Francis as its place of worship and spiritual reference.
The Treasurer, Andrea Rivelli, Knight of Merit, recited the Constantinian Knight’s Prayer.
At the conclusion of the Sacred Rite, the Delegate thanked His Excellency Fabrizio Colaceci for the honour of his presence and expressed gratitude to the Sisters for their hymns and for organizing the Eucharistic Celebration, presenting them with a gold certificate of merit dedicated to the Church of Saint Francis.
