Grand Commander
The Grand Commander is the religious superior of the Professed Knights and of the Knights and Dames in Obedience. His duties include: spreading the principles of Faith, supervising Priories and Subpriories and compiling visitational reports to be sent to the Holy See on the state and life of the Order.
He sees to the religious aspects of the activities of Professed Knights and
Knights in Obedience.
In particular he is in charge of instructing the members of the Sovereign Order
in the fulfillment of the principles of Tuitio Fidei e Obsequium Pauperum.
The Grand Commander also takes care of the Magistral Palace Chapel and the organization of pilgrimages. He acts as Interim Lieutenant in case of the death, resignation from office or permanent incapacity of the Grand Master.
Profile of the Grand Commander
H.E. the Venerable Bailiff
Fra' Gherardo HERCOLANI FAVA SIMONETTI
Born in Bologna in 1941, Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti entered the Order of Malta in 1963, becoming a Professed Knight in 1977. In 1986 he was elevated to the rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice.
Among his important appointments in the Order:
- Councillor to the Sovereign Council, 1978-1983
- Grand Prior of Lombardy and Venetia, 1984-1994
- Member of the Sovereign Council, 2006 until the present.
- From June 2007 he has also been President of the Order’s Pilgrimages.