Tonna, Robert (Ivo) (19.11.1926-) Franciscan scholarBorn in Sliema, Tonna studied at the Lyceum and entered the Franciscan Order of the Friars Minor in 1943. He studied philosophy and theology at the Franciscan study house, Rabat (1944-51) and was ordained priest in 1951. He furthered his studies in philosophy at the UniversitA Antonianum, Rome from where he graduated Ph.B. (1953) and Ph.L. (1955). Between 1959 and 1979, he was officiating chaplain of the RAF (Malta). Tonna lectured in philosophy at the Franciscan seminary in Rabat (1955-79). He also served as provincial secretary (1961-67), provincial definitor (1967-70), and minister provincial (1973-79) of the Franciscan Maltese province. Tonna was also president of the International Franciscan College, Grottaferrata (1979-85); rector of students at the Universita Antonianum, Rome (1986-87), and professor of medieval Franciscan philosophy at the same university (1980-96). Tonna published several books, mainly on Franciscanism. These include The Problem of individuation in the Franciscan School of Oxford in the 13th Century (Rome,1966), Doctrina S. Bonaventura de entis indivuatione (Rome, 1980), Lineamenti di Filosofia Francescana (1982), and other scholarly papers in learned Franciscan journals. Source: Maltese Biographies of the Twentieth Century (1997), editors Michael J. Schiavone and Louis J. Scerri
  
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