Global Service

The Order’s Pro-Active Role in Cancer Prevention and HIV Treatment
The Constantinian Order and the Royal Order of Francis I internationally and nationally support major initiatives concerned with the prevention of cancer, as well as care for cancer victims.

In March 2002 in Rome, the First Meeting on the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer was launched by the Constantinian Order under the high patronage of Pope John Paul II, the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and the United European Gastroenterology Federation. The campaign aims to support and encourage researchers, increase public awareness of the illness and promote ultimate prevention.

His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda, Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order, chaired the Organizing Committee. His Holiness Pope John Paul II (right) received the principal participants of the conference in a private audience held at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City including TRH The Duke and Duchess of Calabria.

The dynastic orders have also launched in February 2002 another major charitable and hospitaller program in conjunction with the National Association against AIDS of the Campania region, and the Association of Wives of Italian Doctors of Naples.

The aim of the initiative is to raise much needed funds for the completion, in partnership with the Comune di Napoli, of the first Constantinian Home in the South of Italy for HIV-positive children. The creation of the first Constantinian Home in the Secondigliano district of Naples allows mothers and HIV-positive children to remain together during their treatment who up until this initiative would have been separated.
 
Hospitaller Assistance of the Order across the World
The Order's hospitaller assistance has played an important role throughout the centuries, in the case of the Constantinian Order this can be tracked as far back as to the Crusades. The Order also played a prominent role in assisting the sick and injured during both the First and Second World Wars.

Today, the dynastic orders financially supports and its members volunteer with the transportation and support of the sick and infirm to pilgrimage sites including Lourdes and most recently, in September 2002, to San Giovanni Rotondo - the tomb of the canonized Saint and capuchin friar, Padre Pio da Pietrelcina. During the latest pilgrimage, the Order supported a large group of disabled children from across Italy who visited the many of the sites associated with the stigmata saint and participated in numerous prayer sessions and masses. The latest pilgrimage took place under the personal patronage of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Calabria and in the presence of the Grand Prior, His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda.

In 2004, the Constantinian Order and the Carabinieri Corps of Italy jointly organized an important humanitarian mission to Nassiriyah in Iraq. This charitable activity in favor of the Iraqi people is part of the wider National Peacekeeping Military Operation "Ancient Babylon" of the Italian Military Forces in Iraq.

The Constantinian Order alone succeeded in donating medical and other equipment totaling more than €700,000 in an effort which was approved by HE The Hon Franco Frattini, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Frattini in a message sent to the Order welcomed the co-operation with the Constantinian Order. The joint-operation was carried out under the lead of Constantinian knight Leonardo Albanesi, Major of the 7th "Trentino Alto Adige" Carabinieri Regiment and by Commander Arrigo Sabarbaro.

The generous participation of so many knights and dames from Northern Italy represented the continuation of the Constantinian Order's prominent role in humanitarian and hospitaller assistance. Shortly before the departure of the ship 'Romea' a religious ceremony was held in Molfalcone harbor by HE Mgr. Arnaldo Greco, Constantinian Chaplain.

The Constantinian Order regularly finances and donates ambulances to the care of the sick and infirm. The senior officers of the Grand Magistry, including TRH The Duke and Duchess of Calabria, together with delegation officials also pay regular visits to hospitals and hospices around the world, which receive support from the dynastic orders. In Great Britain and Ireland for example, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Calabria, together with British and Irish Delegate Anthony Bailey paid visits to Ealing General Hospital (above) in West London in November 2001 and to the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital in November 2002 with the Lord Mayor of Dublin (above). Cardinal Pompedda also visited the Dublin hospital in May 2004.

The Order's Cultural, Educational and Social Initiatives
In the cultural field, the Constantinian Order supports numerous organizations, charities and institutions which carry out cultural and educational initiatives. By way of examples in March 2002 the dynastic orders financially supported the London Symphony Orchestra through a donation towards one of their initiatives which aims to restore an 18th century Hawksmoor church so that it can be used as a LSO music education center.

In Italy the Constantinian Order sponsors children to attend educational establishments including the Institute Santa Patrizia in Central Naples, which cares for the needy children in the city.

Internationally, the wife of the Constantinian Order's Grand Prefect, HRH The Duchess of Calabria, in October 2002 joined up with HRH Princess Benedikte, sister of HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and jointly hosted a charity event in Rome for the Olave Baden Powell Society. Princess Benedikte of Denmark is the worldwide Patron of the Society and The Duchess of Calabria is Patron in Italy.

The Olave Baden Powell Society (www.wagggsworld.org) is a leading international organization offering worldwide educational assistance to young people. It is a society that provides the core of essential funding and support for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). It is also a principle way of equipping more than 10 million young people, from all regions of the world, to go out and build a better future for themselves and for their communities.

In Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Constantinian Order supports educational and community projects such as the Forthspring Inter Community Group initiative which undertake much needed work on a local community level to foster relations between the divided communities in Northern Ireland. It is a multi-religious body incorporating Catholic, Protestant, Methodist and other faith communities and the Constantinian Order funds the salaries of a number of the community workers.

© 2003. Anthony Bailey