Actually, they are not. They are a sovereign Nation, just like the Vatican. They have the same status in the UN as the Vatican does. The*Vatican and the Order exchange Ambassadors.
Yes, they are Catholic, but they are not a religious Order. They have their own set of laws, none of which are subject to the Pope.If the Pope sacked his financial advisor, what right would Italy have to complain?
What do you mean: “None of which are subject to the Pope”? Their Constitutional Charter and Code itself had to be approved by the Pope.
There is an exchange of ambassadors in view of the work that this organisation does. As the Constitutional Charter and Code says in Article 4, Paragraph 6:
The religious nature of the Order does not prejudice the exercise of sovereign prerogatives pertaining to the Order in so far as it is recognized by States as a subject of international law
That is bi-directional. The sovereign prerogatives pertaining to the Order do not prejudice the religious nature of the Order.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is not actually a sovereign nation. It is granted an effective sovereignty in the international community but that is different from being a sovereign nation. They have some few buildings which have been granted extraterritoriality. The situation of (name removed by moderator) is not comparable to that of the Holy See.
They are recognized – though not universally – as being a sovereign entity. But it is in a functional sense of the word and in order to accomplish their mission. Their mission is explicitly as a Catholic entity. Their “sovereignty” is not in the fullest sense of that word, as the Holy See made clear many years ago.
Article 4, paragraph 3 also states
*In the conduct of relations with the Apostolic See, the acquired rights, customs and privileges granted to the Order by the Supreme Pontiffs are in force
unless expressly abrogated.
*
Moreover it is absolutely wrong to in any way imply that they are not a Religious Order. The Knights of Justice – that is to say the members of the first rank – are, in fact, vowed Religious according to the norms of Canon Law and thus they come under the supreme authority of the Pope to whom they must submit themselves.
In the 1950s, when there was a conflict between His Holiness Pope Pius XII and His Most Eminent Highness, the Grand Master of that era, the Pope threatened the Prince with excommunication to recall him to his filial devotion…because, of course, ultimately, the Prince/Grand Master must yield to the Pope in any point that actually touches upon the Religious Life, for the Holy Father’s authority is supreme in all things Catholic and above all those living a vowed life…and no one is above or beyond it. Clarifications were made subsequent to these events by the Holy See.
Who the (name removed by moderator) issues a passport or their coinage or stamps are indeed acts proper to the (name removed by moderator) and its sovereignty…but one must not pretend that the Religious who are part of the (name removed by moderator), or indeed the clerics who belong to the first rank of membership or are incardinated therein, are beyond the Pope’s reach and jurisdiction…they are not, as no Catholic is.
His Most Eminent Highness has made public the letter he wrote to the Holy Father for the 50th World Day of Peace. In his letter, a response to the Holy Father’s message for the World Day of Peace, he well expresses that abject submission to the Pope’s supreme authority that should mark one in vowed life:
In response to Your Holiness’ message I offer my total support and that of the entire Order of Malta which, even in a difficult and complex time, seeks to render its service in closely adhering to the teaching of the Church and the directions which come from the Successor to St Peter. /…/ The reference Your Holiness makes to the Sermon on the Mount and the Eight Beatitudes, which in the Order of St John are seen as symbolic of the eight-pointed cross, adopted by the founding fathers of the Hospital in Jerusalem, guides our trust in the benevolence and closeness of the Successor of St Peter to help us to cultivate and uphold the tradition which comes down to us through nine centuries of history and today finds new ways and new means to express its own convinced and shared spirituality.
His Most Eminent Highness, quite appropriately, concluded his letter: “I beg Your Holiness to accept the expression of my devotion, and that of the entire Order of Malta, with the assurance of my constant prayers, as well as those of the community of the Grand Magistry and of all of the Order.”
Personally, I have every confidence that the Vicar of Christ upon earth will indeed help them to sort out the situation in which they presently find themselves.
) more limited when they are here.