conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. On 21 February 2011, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title. Sebastiani is the spiritual guide and protector of an organization that styles itself the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, one of many private organizations mimicking the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Notes References External links Profile of Sergio Sebastiani on Catholic Hierarchy Profile in Salvador Miranda's biographical dictionary Profile on GCatholic.org 1931 births Living people People from the Province of Ascoli Piceno 21st-century Italian cardinals Apostolic Nuncios to Madagascar Apostolic Nuncios to Mauritius Apostolic Nuncios to Turkey Economic history of the Holy See Almo Collegio Capranica alumni Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni Members of the Apostolic Signatura Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Pontifical Lateran University alumni