The Prelate is the religious superior of the clergy of the Order with priestly functions. He ensures that the religious and priestly life of the Chaplains and their apostolate are followed according to the discipline and spirit of the Order.

He supports the Grand Master and the Grand Commander in supervising the religious life and devotion of the members of the Order and in any aspect related to the spiritual nature of the Order's initiatives.

The Prelate is appointed by the Supreme Pontiff, who chooses from among three candidates presented by the Grand Master, with the deciding vote of the Sovereign Council. The Prelate assists the Cardinalis Patronus in the exercise of his office with the Order.

The Prelate of the Order of Malta
H.E. Reverend Monsignor Angelo Acerbi
Chaplain of the Grand Cross "Ad Honorem"

Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, Archbishop Titolare di Zella, was born in Sesto Godano, in the Diocese of La Spezia, on 23rd September 1925 and was ordained into the priesthood on 27 March 1948. A graduate in Canon Law with a diploma in Theology, he was called to the Holy See in 1954. After having served in the nunciatures in Colombia, Brazil, Japan and France, and the Vatican Secretary of State in the Department of External Relations, in 1974 he was appointed Archbishop di Zella and Papal Nuncio of New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean. As nuncio he was transferred to Colombia, to Hungary and to Holland.

He is the Prelate of the Order of Malta since 6 August 2001.