Bertie was admitted to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta as a Knight of Honour and Devotion, 14 November 1956.[2] He became a Knight of Obedience 31 March 1968.[2] On 7 February 1975 he entered the novitiate for Knights of Justice and of 28 March 1977 became of Knight of Justice in temporary vows.[2][3] He made his perpetual vows as a Knight of Justice 20 May 1981.[2]
In 1981 Bertie also joined the government of the Order as a member of the Sovereign Council. In April 1988, he was elected Grand Master in succession to the late Fra' Angelo de Mojana. Bertie's election was ratified by Pope John Paul II 11 April 1988.
Subsequently, Bertie was Hospitaller of the Sanctuary of Lourdes, which is the annual pilgrimage site of the Order of Malta.[4]
Bertie described the aims of the Order as "to help the poor and the sick; that is and always has been our primary aim":
"The other military orders were there to fight the Saracens and to save Spain or the Holy Land or Prussia from the pagans. But we always had this special commitment to the poor and the sick. Our aims today are exactly the same as they were in 1099, the sanctification of our members through service to the sick."[4]
Personal life
Bertie never married or had children. He died in Rome from cancer on 7 February 2008, aged 78.
His full title was: His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Most Humble Guardian of the Poor of Jesus Christ.[5]
