The Order of Malta this week elected Fra’ John Dunlap as prince and 81st grand master of the Order of Malta. He was sworn in on May 3 and will hold the office for 10 years.
Dunlap, 66, is Canadian and the first professed knight from the Americas to lead the sovereign state and religious order. He is a lawyer by profession.
The position of the grand master of the Order of Malta has been vacant since the death in 2020 of Fra’ Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto.
The order announced Dunlap’s election on May 3. He has been leading the order as lieutenant grand master since last year when he was appointed by Pope Francis following the sudden death of his predecessor, Fra’ Marco Luzzago.