According to the Vatican Insider article by Andrea Tornielli:  "American cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Patron of the Order of Malta,  had firmly requested Boeselager’s removal, asking the Pope to back such a move, in an audience which took place in November 2016. Francis had prepared a letter addressed to Burke, calling for respect of Catholic morality. He also, however, urged for the problem to be resolved through dialogue within the Order itself. It is not clear whether the heads of the Order had been informed of this letter but the Grand Chancellor, the Order’s second most important figure was removed anyway, despite the Pope’s request for the issue to be resolved otherwise."