Official book launch evening in Rome on 29 October 2019
On 29 October 2019, the Secretariat of State of the Holy See organized an official evening of presentation of the book Orders and Decorations of the Holy See. The event took place in the famous Sala Regia, adjacent to the Sistine Chapel, which is usually used only once a year for the presentation of the vows of the diplomatic corps to the Holy Father. The evening was presided over by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. More than two hundred people were present, among them Archbishop Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, i.e., Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vatican City State. A large number of diplomats and Roman personalities, such as Prince Dominique de la Rochefoucauld Montbel, Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, or Count Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Governor General of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, also attended the event. After a word of welcome by Cardinal Parolin, Professor Fabio Cassani Pironti, a great specialist in phaleristics, spoke at length about the themes dealt with in the book. Then the author pronounced the customary thanks. The evening ended with a wine of honour offered by the Secretariat of State. A detailed report, including audio interviews, can be found on the Vatican News website: