On 29th/30th March 2025 H.E. The Governor General, Ambassador Leonardo Visconti of Modrone, intervened at the Prayer Vigil and Investiture ceremonies in Gibraltar celebrated by the Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy of Gibraltar Mons. Carmel Zammit, KC*HS in which one new Knight and four new Ladies were welcomed and promoted to the rank of two Knights and one Lady.

In his speech at the banquet that followed the ceremony, the Governor-General recalled the role that the Order can play in the repacification of the Holy Land through schools, parishes, and other charitable institutions supported by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and also encouraged small Locations like that of Gibraltar to join in the dialogue that the Order is promoting to give the Holy Land a hope for peace in justice.

Among the visiting Dignitaries were H.E. Peter Durnin, GCHS Lieutenant of Ireland

Below is a transcript of the Investiture Homily of The Right Reverend Carmel Zammit, KC*HS, Bishop of Gibraltar and Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy of Gibraltar.

Your Excellency Dear members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, esteemed Guests. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, we gather to celebrate the investiture of new members into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

As we come together for this sacred occasion, we are guided by the words of the prophet Hosea and the parable of the publican and the pharisee praying in the temple. Hosea tells us ‘I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings’. How do we commit ourselves as knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre to show steadfast love rather than just attending religious services.

This is a commitment that we undertake as Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher. We are called to remain steadfast in our love as servants of Christ, dedicating our lives with unwavering commitment to profess the faith through our witness, generosity, and love for the Gospel.

The Gospel passage is about the right kind of prayer and the wrong kind of prayer, the different responses of humankind to Christ’s message of how to pray. The prayer of the humble publican was very short and to the point. ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”.

The key phrase for us is, ‘everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’
In the words of the Holy Father, The Pharisee and the publican concern us closely. When we think of them, let us look at ourselves: let us confirm whether, in us, as in the Pharisee, there is the intimate presumption of being righteous (cf. v. 9) that leads us to despise others.

It happens, for instance, when we seek compliments and always make a list of our own merits and good works, when we concern ourselves with how we appear rather than how we are, when we let ourselves be trapped by narcissism and exhibitionism.

Let us beware of narcissism and exhibitionism, based on vainglory, that lead even us Christians, priests and bishops, always to have one word on our lips. Which word? “I”. (Angelus, 23 October 2022).

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem has a noble mission, one deeply rooted in the history of our faith.

Our order was established for the custody of the Holy Places and the care of the faithful in the Land of the Lord and of pilgrims.

The Mission of the Order
In the closing years of the 13th Century, at the conclusion of the First Crusade, Godfrey de Bouillon founded the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He founded it amid the complex and strife-ridden history of the Holy Land, to defend the Holy Sepulchre and to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Godfrey’s purpose was not so much to achieve military or political victories as it was to protect the homeland of Jesus and Mary. From the start, he entrusted this project to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Palestine.

On this day of investiture, we turn to her with loving devotion, asking her to pray with us and for us as we take up Godfrey’s project anew.

Becoming a Knight or Dame of this order is not merely a title or an honor; it is a profound commitment to place Jesus Christ at the center of our existence, in every aspect of our lives, including our personal, family, and social projects.

May we understand more profoundly the spirit of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and our role in its mission … its mission to support the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in works of charity and education, and to sustain the churches and shrines that mark those places consecrated for all time by the Lord’s earthly presence.

Our commitment to this order also means believing in the redemptive power of the Cross and the Resurrection. It is through these sacred events that we find hope and peace, not only for ourselves but also for the world. We are bound by an ancient bond to the memory of the places of the Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord.

And we are united in our support of the pastoral charity of the Church in the Holy Land.

Today, as we invest new members into this venerable order, let us remember that we are called to be witnesses of Christ’s love and to sow the seeds of faith wherever we go.

Let us strive to be like the tax collector, aware of our sinfulness but at the same time confident in God’s love and forgiveness..

May we, with attentive hearts, listen to the word of God and allow it to guide us in our mission to profess the faith and bring hope to a world in need. Amen

+ Carmel Zammit

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