The materials in FOIA 2010-2421-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2010-2421-F contains materials related to the meeting President Bush had with Fra Andrew Bertie, the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, otherwise known as the Order of Malta....Read more
The materials in FOIA 2010-2421-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2010-2421-F contains materials related to the meeting President Bush had with Fra Andrew Bertie, the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, otherwise known as the Order of Malta. The charitable group is a worldwide, lay, religious order of the Roman Catholic Church and is based in Rome. One of its purposes is to glorify God 2010-2421-F 2 by promoting the sanctification of each member through his or her work with the sick and the poor. The order's origins date back to around 1048 when the Knights Hospitaller was founded as a hospital group to care for poor and sick pilgrims to the Holy Land, despite their religious faith or race. During the First Crusade, it became a Catholic military order under its own charter. Following the loss of the Christian- held territories of the Holy Land to the Muslims, the Order operated from Rhodes, and later Malta. In 1798, Napoleon expelled the knights who eventually settled in Rome. Because of its charitable mission to care for those in need, the Order's Western Association officials decided to award President Bush the Cross of Merit in recognition of his response to the people of Hungary. As a result, President Bush met with Grand Master Bertie at the White House on April 19, 1991. The material in this collection consists of routine government forms, letters, and a photocopy of a picture. These documents are contained in a George Bush Presidential WHORM Subject Files folder. The routine government forms are a White House Correspondence Tracking Worksheet and Referral Forms, an Approved Presidential Activity memo, and a Department of State Transmittal Form. These papers log information regarding incoming and outgoing White House correspondence, the details of President Bush's meeting with Fra Bertie, and what action the State Department suggested regarding some incoming correspondence. There are numerous letters present between staffers and various individuals (including office holders of the Order of Malta) concerning President Bush's acceptance of the Cross of Merit from the Western Association of the Order of Malta. Many details were discussed such as the invitation for President Bush to accept the honor, letters urging President Bush to accept the award, and travel plans for the Grand Master of the Order of Malta. Lastly, there is a photo copy of the Cross of Merit neck cross, badge and ribbon awarded to President Bush. Read less