Born in Ottawa, Canada, on April 16,
1957, John Dunlap, after studying at the University of Nice,
graduated from Ottawa University and became a doctor in law at
the University of Western Ontario. He has been awarded an
honorary doctorate in public administration by the John Cabot
University in Rome.
Fra' John Dunlap is a member of the lawyers guild in New York
State and also that of the Canadian province of Ontario. In 1986
he started with the legal firm of Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller
in New York, becoming a partner in 1993. He specialised in
company and immigration law. An internationally respected
lawyer, since 1997 he has been a legal consultant to the Mission
of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the United
Nations.
Fra' Dunlap's approach to the Order of Malta and his discovery
of a religious vocation began with his volunteering with
patients affected by AIDS and other pathologies at the Cardinal
Cooke Medical Center of Harlem (New York) halfway through the
1980s. He has served in that same hospital every week of the
last 30 years.
Admitted to the Order of Malta in 1996, he issued his solemn
vows as Professed Knight in 2008. For over a decade he served
the Order of Malta as Chair of the Committee for the protection
of names and emblems and Representative at the Alliance of the
Orders of St John.
In 2009 Fra' Dunlap was elected to a five year term as member of
the Sovereign Council. He was re-elected for another five years
by the General Chapter in 2014 and then again in 2019. Since
June 2022, following the death of Fra' Marco Luzzago, he has
been at the top of the Order of Malta as Lieutenant to the Grand
Master.
According to Article 12 of its Constitution, the Grand Master is
the head of the Order and he has its prerogatives and sovereign
honours as well as the title of Most Eminent Highness. He must
dedicate himself fully to increasing the Maltese works and being
an example of an authentic Christian life for all the members
(article 106 of the Code).
It is up to the Grand Master, together with the Sovereign
Council, to issue legislative measures not envisaged by the
Constitutional Charter, to promulgate acts of government and
ratify international accords. He administrates, through the
Receiver of the Common Treasure, the assets of the Order and
convenes the Chapter of the Professed and the General Chapter.
The States with which the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
entertains diplomatic relations recognise to the Grand Master
the prerogatives, immunities and honours befitting Heads of
States.
The Grand Master resides in the seat of government of the Order
of Malta, the Magisterial Palace in Rome.
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