The Sovereign Order of Malta (full name: Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, also known as the Knights of Malta) is a Roman Catholic religious order organized as a military force. They are the oldest European knights in the world with nearly 1,000 years of history and are considered a chivalrous and martial force.
The Order of Malta now operates as a humanitarian aid organization. They donate millions of dollars to refugee camps and disaster relief programs in about 120 countries around the world.
It is also a sovereign state, has UN observer status, and its own constitution, but does not own any land. The Order of Malta can issue license plates but does not own roads to drive on. However, the organization does have its own stamps, currency, and passports.
The Order of the Knights of Malta originated as knights in Jerusalem around 1099 and was given the islands of Malta by the King of Spain in 1530. Napoleon Bonaparte forced the knights to leave Malta during the French invasion of 1798. Today, the order is headquartered in Rome.
Daniel de Petri Testaferrata, President of the Malta-based Order, told CNN that of the 13,500 knights, ladies and clergymen spread across the globe, only about 100 remain living in the Maltese archipelago.
The first passport was issued by the Order of Malta in the 1300s. Today, only around 500 Order of Malta diplomatic passports are in circulation – making it the rarest passport in the world.
The "exclusive" passport
The crimson passports are reserved for members of the Sovereign Council and heads of diplomatic missions and their families, decorated with gold letters bearing the name of the organization in French “Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte” and a coat of arms.
“The law issues passports to members of their government for the duration of their mandate,” said De Petri Testaferrata. The passports of the Grand Masters are the longest-lasting because they are elected for 10 years, can serve two terms and must retire before the age of 85. The other passports are valid for four years and are only used for diplomatic missions. The passport has 44 pages stamped with a Maltese cross without any other images or quotes.
According to Mr. De Petri Testaferrata, two-thirds of Schengen members recognize diplomatic passports and the association cooperates closely with many countries that do not have formal diplomatic relations, such as France, the UK and the US.
“We provide rapid medical and humanitarian supplies to victims of conflict or natural disasters. We operate hospitals, ambulance teams, health centres, homes for the elderly and disabled, soup kitchens and first aid stations,” De Petri Testaferrata explains.
In the footsteps of the Knights of Malta
While it is unlikely that visitors will encounter any knights when visiting Malta, there are many places across the Maltese archipelago to learn about the history of this order.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive on the main island is the massive honey-colored Fort St. Angelo, jutting out of the crystal-clear waters of Grand Harbour. This imposing medieval fortress was once the headquarters of the order and is the only remaining structure on the island that still partially belonged to the knights.
The chapel dedicated to St Anne in the upper part of the fortress is still preserved by the Order, said De Petri Testaferrata. You can visit this part of the fortress to see where Grand Master de Valette prayed daily for deliverance from the Ottoman invaders during the Great Siege of 1565.
Inside the ancient fortress walls of Mdina, Malta's medieval capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors can learn more about the Order at the 3D audio-visual show “The Knights of Malta”.
In the capital city of Valletta, you can continue exploring the knights' "historical path" at the National Library of Malta, which houses the Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, the parchment that Pope Paschal II used in 1113 to grant sovereignty to the Order.
After the library, you can walk across the street to the Grand Master's Palace, where the knights used to meet. The throne room was used by the knights as the meeting place of the Supreme Council and is still decorated with ancient frescoes depicting the Great Siege.
TB (according to Vietnamnet)Source
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