On February 13th and 14th, the Order of St. George organised a pilgrimage to Rome, in the spirit of the Holy Year 2025. More than 50 Dames and Knights of the Order took part and experienced a programme that was both rich in content and spiritual.
On Thursday morning, on the initiative of Vice Chancellor Michael Blaha, MSc, an exclusive tour behind the scenes of the Pontifical Swiss Guard was on the programme. The participants then took the opportunity to pass through the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica and to pray in what is probably the most important church in Christendom.
The afternoon was followed by a festive service in the church of Santa Maria dell’Anima, celebrated by H. Em. Cardinal Kurt Koch, with the concelebrants H. E. Bishop em. DDr. Klaus Küng, Father Provincial Dr. Marek Pučalík, Chaplain Mag. Paul Josef Markowitsch, Deacon Christian Mayr and as mass ceremonial Father Mihails Volohovs. The mass was accompanied by Missa ‘Petra sancta’ by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, performed by the magnificent ‘La Cappella Musicale di Santa Maria dell’Anima’ under the direction of Maestro Flavio Colusso.
Almost a hundred people, including numerous personalities from the Vatican and diplomacy, took part in the subsequent discussion event entitled ‘The Power of Hope’.
Chancellor Dr. Stefan Schermaier was pleased to welcome, among others H. Em. Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, as well as all other panellists: Deputy Grandmaster HIRH Georg von Habsburg, the Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See HIRH Eduard von Habsburg-Lothringen and Honorary Knight S. E. Neven Pelicarić, Ambassador and former advisor of the president of Croatia.
Continuing with the representatives of the clergy: H. E. Archbishop Guido Pozzo, H. E. Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, the Chairman of the Spiritual Council H. E. Bishop em. DDr. Klaus Küng, Prelate Dr. Tuomo T. Vimpari and Father Provincial Dr. Marek Pučalík.
Furthermore, the diplomatic representatives: H. E. Adam Mariusz Kwiatkowski, H. E. Andrii Yurash and Sig.ra. Tea Zupičić.
On the part of the Order Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele and President of the Dames Baroness KommR Mag. Gabriela von Stimpfl-Abele as well as the former minister for culture of Czech Republic Mgr. Daniel Herman and Honorary Knight Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak.
The Order Government was also well represented by the Justitiar, the Vice Chancellors, the Order Marshal, the Ceremonial, the Deputy Treasurer and a number of Capitulars, Commanders and Vice Commanders.
Dr. Stefan Schermaier also used his welcome address to thank everyone who had made a significant contribution to organising the pilgrimage and the high-class programme: first and foremost the Rector of the Anima, Dr. Michael Max, for his hospitality. Also Don Mag. Paul Joseph Markowitsch, Order Knight Stephan Baier, Dott. Eugenio Cecchini, Marshal Thomas Bernhard v. Schrempf, Capitular Mag. Stefan Stöger and Vice Chancellor Michael Blaha, MSc for their great support.
Finally, the Chancellor pointed out that the panel discussion would be broadcast worldwide by EWTN and also welcomed the moderator, Mag. Andreas Thonhauser, Director of the Vatican EWTN studio.
The evening began with a keynote by our Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele, who addressed the importance of hope in his speech, which was thanked by the audience with long-lasting applause. This contribution inspired the vivid and many-faceted panel discussion, in which the audience soon joined in.
The evening came to a pleasant end with a Roman buffet and a lot of interesting conversations.
The next day, the participants came together in the Campo Santo Teutonico to listen to a very interesting lecture by Don Mag. Paul Josef Markowitsch, who provided insights into the work of the popes and their diplomacy.
At the end of an impressive time in Rome that was enriching in many ways, the President of the Dames of the Order of St. George, Baroness KommR Mag. Gabriela von Stimpfl-Abele, accompanied by her deputy Ulrike Günther and a high-ranking delegation of the Order, handed over a donation for the charitable works of the Holy Father to the Papal Almoner, H. Em. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
Media echo
Articles (links)
> Link to the article at www.die-tagespost.de
> Link to the guest commentary of our Procurator at www.die-tagespost.de
> Link to the article at www.ewtnvatican.com
Articles (PDF download)
TV recording of the panel discussion (by EWTN)
TV report from EWTN Vatican Studio