First, this…
Arthur Roche leaving Divine Worship to become patron of the Order of Malta, according to a Vatican source. If true, great opportunity for Pope Leo to appoint a non-sociopath to supervise liturgy.
— Damian Thompson (@holysmoke) March 29, 2026
Now, this…
AGI/AMSA Rome April 1, 2026
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, popularly known as the Knights of Malta, has reportedly declared that it has “entered upon a period of complete and sovereign estrangement” from the Holy See.
Sources in Rome claim the rupture follows years of mounting frustration over the Holy See’s interventions with the Knights of Malta, which many within the ancient Order have regarded as incompatible with its historic dignity and quasi-sovereign character.
Pope Francis intervened forcefully in the Order of Malta’s internal governance. After a leadership controversy in 2017 crisis he appointed papal delegates to oversee reform, and in 2022 imposed a new constitution, dismissed the Sovereign Council, and installed a provisional government, sharply curtailing the Order’s customary autonomy.
The extraordinary communiqué cited “prolonged discourtesies, innovations, administrative intrusions, and a lamentable indifference to venerable custom” among the motives for the dramatic step. A senior figure within the Order, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “There comes a moment when a gentleman must defend tradition.”
Giving substance to the rumors, long time Vatican observer Damian Thompson reported via X on March 31 the imminent lateral move of Cardinal Arthur Roche from the Holy See’s liturgy office, to be the new Patron of the Order of Malta. Asked about this development, an anonymous source member called this, “the last straw”. Roche is known mainly for his consistent attacks on Catholic tradition.
In what observers are calling the most startling element of the announcement, representatives of the Order are said to be preparing to attend the forthcoming episcopal consecrations at Écône on July 1, 2026, at the invitation of the Society of St. Pius X. The Society, known also as the SSPX has stated that they will consecrate more bishops without the permission of the Holy See, a move which some say is a schismatic act.
While no official list of attendees has yet been released by the Society, it is projected that several high ranking knights will attend in full ceremonial dress.
Vatican officials have declined formal comment.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, popularly known as the Knights of Malta, has reportedly declared that it has “entered upon a period of complete and sovereign estrangement” from the Holy See.
April’s fool. Please check your sources first. AGI doesn’t report anything and AMSA doesn’t exist! (not even ANSA, which is the real news agency name).
[Check my sources? LOL!]
It isn’t so much “tradition” as the legal rights and powers of the organization that have been violated.
I mean, no medieval religious order would have been subject to such cavalier interference. Even orders being suppressed were not treated like that.
So I find it hard to believe that the Knights of Malta do not have charters and such, that would prohibit the stuff that Pope Francis did. I also don’t:t think I would want Cardinal Roche as my boss or overseer.
Pope Leo seems not to have understood just how hard-pressed people were feeling. He probably should have, but I am sure a lot of people were holding their tongues while Pope Francis was alive.
So now it looks like Pope Leo is having to clean the messes created by the crazies who hid behind Pope Francis, because he didn’t give people assurance that the crazy days were over.
It is depressing.
April Fools??? If so – good one!
I want to be more invested in this story, but today’s date prevents me.
If my management were treating me like this at work, I would take it as a clear signal that they want me to quit so that they don’t have to fire me. It looks like something very similar is happening here.
I don’t blame them, but it IS April 1st so questioning the authenticity ;-)
April Fools!
Is the date April 1 of relevance to this?
Not an April Fools’ joke?
Another mess for which we can thank the late pope.
I read this morning, in a news alert that came across my desk:
“To show their appreciation of the Second Vatican Council, and their efforts to broach the difficult topics of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, the chancery of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X has announced that it will be bestowing the title of Protonotary Apostolic, with the accompanying style of “Right Reverend Monsignor” upon a priest who is not a member of that Fraternity, one “John T. Zuhlsdorf.” Massimo Faggioli and Phyllis Zagano are both praising this demonstration of an ecumenical spirit by the Fraternity, Zagano being quoted to say, “It is encouraging that the sons of Archbishop Lefebvre are moving beyond his entrenched hostility to Rome and embracing someone truly imbued with the Spirit of Vatican II. I look forward to congratulating Msgr. Zuhlsdorf over our next Mc-cappuccino at McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps.”
I despise the first day of April!
You almost had me there!
Now that Cardinal Roche is moving on and the laity are allowed to hold governance in high positions in the Church, I heard Grillo’s name was being floated to replace Roche.
I do remember an auxiliary bishop referring to them as “The Knights of Moolah.”
I bought it a first…. sadly we live in a real foolish world the other 364 days of the year where this is almost the kind of action we should be supporting.
If this is an April Fools’ joke, it is a good one. Truth is often stranger than fiction, these days.
So when I looked into the origins of April Fool’s Day, I found that it revolved basically around the calendar changes from Julian to Gregorian. Moreover, the quite jarring change from marking the new year at Lady Day, 3/25, to marking the new year at January 1st.
It is unclear which side people landed on, but it is plausible [?] that the modern types regarded devotion to Our Lady as foolish, or at least adherence to the Julian reckoning, and it is no coincidence that April 1st is the octave day of that celebration of the Annunciation Of Our Lord. [The Gregorian calendar went into force in 1582. There is a Flemish poem dated 1561 in which a servant is sent on a fool’s mission because it is 1 April.]
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, [This fallacy is called the “argumentum ad ignorantiam”.] I am forced [?] to regard April Fool’s Day as a profoundly anti-Catholic and even anti-Marian observance. Having been duly served as Class Clown, as well as Troll-at-Large on forums.catholic.com, I am troubled by this association. [It might be best for you not to visit sites that trouble you.]
Damian Thompson’s post is, in any case, from 29 March (not 31 March – unless there is a second post) – though someone could have thought it a good opportunity to build an April Fool’s ‘news’ item upon. The FSSPX being open to Knights attending the consecrations – or even inviting them – seems plausible in any case. And I can as easily imagine Henry Sire attending “in full ceremonial dress” if he had not been given the boot.