In the days leading up to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Royal Commission for Peru of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George held a meeting dedicated to prayer, fraternity, and the sharing of activities carried out and future projects.

At the call of the President, H.E. Ambassador Don Carlos José Pareja y Ríos , Knight Grand Cross of Merit, Knights, Ladies, and Chaplains present in the country gathered, renewing their commitment to the aims of the Order: the Glorification of the Cross, the Propagation of the Faith , and the Defence of the Holy Roman Catholic Church .

During the meeting, the charitable and cultural initiatives carried out in Peru were reviewed, along with the prospects for collaboration with CEDHI Nueva Arequipa of the Archdiocese of Arequipa and with the Parish of Santo Tomás de Valencia in the district of Santa Rosa in Lima. Particular attention was also given to the possible development of the phenomenon El Niño and the forms of support that the Constantinian Order could provide in case of need. It was also recalled the imminent Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Peru, scheduled for 11 to 17 November 2026 .

Those present expressed gratitude to Ambassador Pareja for the service he has provided to the country in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs , and extended their best wishes for his recent appointment as Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations .

The meeting, during which prayers were offered for Christendom, for the Sacred Military Constantinian Order, and for Peru , reaffirmed the intention to continue and strengthen the religious, charitable, and cultural service of the Order in the country.

Meeting of the Royal Commission for Peru
A gathering in the sign of the Holy Cross

Shortly before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—which, together with the Feast of Saint George the Martyr, is one of the most important and deeply felt religious events of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George—the President of the Royal Commission for Peru of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, H.E. Ambassador Don Carlos José Pareja y Ríos, Knight Grand Cross of Merit, convened the Knights, Ladies, and Chaplains of the Order present in the country.

The meeting provided an opportunity to share a moment of fraternity and prayer and to take stock of the main activities carried out during the year, while looking ahead to the initiatives to be developed in the coming months.

The Constantinian presence in the country fits into the path begun with the establishment of the Royal Commission for Peru, the first Hispano-American country in South America in which a Royal Commission of the Order has been set up, and consolidated by the official visit carried out in September 2023 by the Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, HRH Prince Pedro of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta, Head of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies. On that occasion, HRH the Grand Master visited, among other places, Lima and Arequipa, meeting members of the Order and directly getting to know some of the charitable and social realities of the area.

New charitable initiatives

Among the projects examined during the meeting were two new collaboration initiatives: one with the Centro de Estudios y Desarrollo Humano Integral – CEDHI “Nueva Arequipa”, placed under the aegis of the Archdiocese of Arequipa, and the other with the Parish of Santo Tomás de Valencia, in the district of Santa Rosa in Lima.

The collaboration with CEDHI Nueva Arequipa continues the support already ensured by the Constantinian Order for the socio-educational project promoted by the Archdiocese of Arequipa, especially for young people coming from families in difficult conditions. The Center provides technical and vocational training, accompanied by a path of integral human development founded on Christian values, with the objective of promoting young people’s access to work and their responsible participation in community life.

Attention to the consequences of El Niño

During the meeting, attention was also given to the evolution of the El Niño phenomenon and its possible consequences for the Peruvian population in the coming months. The Royal Commission therefore began to evaluate the ways in which the Constantinian Order could offer its support should climatic conditions make assistance interventions necessary.

The issue assumes particular importance in light of the forecasts of the Peruvian competent authorities, who maintain a state of alert regarding El Niño Costero and indicate the possibility of a significant intensification of the phenomenon between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027.

The Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV

It was also communicated that this year it will not be possible to hold the traditional spiritual retreat in Arequipa, hosted in previous years at the invitation of the Principal Chaplain of the Royal Commission for Peru, His Excellency the Most Reverend Javier Augusto Del Río Alba, Metropolitan Archbishop of Arequipa, Chaplain Grand Cross of Merit.

In the next month of November 2026, in fact, Peru will welcome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV within the scope of the Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, officially announced by the Holy See. The Holy Father will be in the country from 11 to 17 November and will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa .

The service of Ambassador Carlos José Pareja y Ríos

Those present also expressed their thanks to Ambassador Pareja for the service rendered to Peru as Minister of Foreign Affairs, an office he held from 23 April to 28 July 2026, and they extended him their best wishes for his recent designation as Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations in New York .

The appointment was officially confirmed on 5 September 2026 with Supreme Resolution No. 146-2026-RE, while the date on which he will assume his functions will be set by a subsequent Ministerial Resolution .

For his part, Ambassador Pareja reaffirmed his commitment to the Constantinian Order and his intention to continue following its activities closely. He also expressed his wish to confirm to HRH the Grand Master the availability of the Royal Commission for Peru to further strengthen Constantinian spirit in the country.

With this in view, the hope was expressed that HRH the Grand Master may return to Peru in 2027 to preside over the investiture of new Knights, Ladies, and Chaplains, visit the charitable works supported by the Royal Commission, and meet with members of the Order, sharing with them the ideals and goals that inspire the service.