2018 Consulta
The Consulta is the general assembly of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, held every five years at the See of Peter in Rome. The 2018 Consulta was attended by 59 of the Order's 64 Lieutenants and Magistral Delegates from around the world, representing more than 30,000 Knights and Dames across 40 countries and territories.
New Zealand was represented by Magistral Delegate Knight Jack Gibbs KGCHS.
The Proceedings
Each day of the Consulta began with a Concelebrated Mass in Latin, with the readings proclaimed in a different language each day. Knight Jack Gibbs was honoured to be selected to proclaim the readings in English on one of those days. The entrance hymn throughout was the Taizé chant Laudate Dominum, led with great warmth by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The working sessions focused on the Instrumentum Laboris — a working document circulated to delegates beforehand — which examined the role of the Lieutenant and Magistral Delegate within the Order. Simultaneous translation was provided in five languages throughout. Three discussion groups considered the document and offered feedback to the Governor General in plenary session.
Knight Jack Gibbs met personally with the Cardinal Grand Master and the Governor General during the Consulta.
Sacred Music — An Oratorio in Honour of Blessed Bartolo Longo
On the Wednesday evening a concert of sacred music was held at 9.00 pm in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem — one of Rome's ancient pilgrimage churches, originally the palace of Saint Helena and for centuries the repository of a relic of the True Cross.
The Oratorio performed was Exsultet — a work about the life of Blessed Bartolo Longo KHS, the Apostle of the Rosary. The work expressed Bartolo's spiritual struggle — his journey from doubt and darkness to faith, and the joy that his investiture as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre brought him late in life. It was performed by soloists, a four-part choir, and a full orchestra.
This was a particularly meaningful evening for the Order, as Blessed Bartolo Longo — now Saint Bartolo Longo, canonised by Pope Leo XIV in October 2025 — was himself a Knight of the Order. His body rests in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Pompeii, clothed in the mantle and regalia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order.
Papal Audience with Pope Francis
The Consulta concluded with a Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis on Friday 16 November 2018. In his address to the assembled Knights and Dames, Pope Francis offered encouragement and direction to the Order.
He gave particular emphasis to the spiritual foundation of the Order's mission, reminding delegates that the primary purpose of the Order is the spiritual growth of its members, and that its charitable works must flow from genuine evangelical love rather than mere philanthropy. He said:
"Do not forget that you are not a philanthropic agency committed to promoting the material and social progress of your beneficiaries. You are called to place the evangelical love of neighbour as the purpose of your work, to witness everywhere the goodness and care with which God loves everyone."
The Holy Father also addressed the growing persecution of Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East, calling on members of the Order to unite prayer with their practical support, and to invoke the intercession of Our Lady of Palestine.
As a sign of solidarity with persecuted Christians, Pope Francis blessed an icon of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians, copies of which were given to each Lieutenancy to carry home and install in their communities for prayerful intercession.
Knight Jack Gibbs was present at the audience and was privileged to shake the hand of the Holy Father.
The Icon of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians
Each Lieutenancy and Magistral Delegation received a copy of the icon of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians, blessed by Pope Francis at the audience. New Zealand's copy was subsequently mounted and installed for prayerful veneration by the Magistral Delegation.
Key matters noted from the Consulta
The number of Dame Lieutenants within the Order is increasing worldwide, reflecting the growing role of women in leadership across the Order's local structures.
The revised Constitution of the Order, which had been under preparation, had not yet received final approval from the Secretariat of State at the time of the Consulta — a matter of some frustration among delegates. The updated Constitution was subsequently promulgated in 2021.
A note on the report
The account of the 2018 Consulta was written by Knight Jack Gibbs KGCHS, who served as Magistral Delegate of New Zealand from the founding of the Delegation until 2019. The full text of his report, including his reflection on the life and legacy of Blessed Bartolo Longo, was circulated to members of the Delegation following the Consulta.