On the occasion of his inauguration as President of the United States of America, the American Knights of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also know as Knights of Malta or the Hospitaller, on behalf of all the Knights and Dames of the Federation in more than 60 countries, salute and congratulate H. E. the President Elect Barack Obama and express their sincere wishes that his mandate will contribute to the progress of the United States of America in particular and to the Peace and Development of the World in general.

The election of H.E. President Obama coincides with the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the federative act, in New York, of the Autonomous Priories legal descendents of the old Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, that has almost 1.000 years of glorious History.

May the mandate of H. E. President Barack Obama be guided by the same high principles that have guided our Knights throughout Time and History.

On behalf of the American Knights

Rev. Sir John Pettigrass KCM