The Sovereign Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law. The Order - which is based in Rome, in via Condotti - has its own Government, an independent magistracy, bilateral diplomatic relations with 99 countries and is granted the status of Permanent Observer in many international organizations, such as the United Nations. Its operational activities are managed by the six Grand Priories, five Subpriories and 47 National Associations of Knights in the five continents.

The Order issues its own passports and stamps and creates public institutions, endowed with independent juridical personality. Order's life is governed by the Constitutional Charter and the Code, reformed in 1997.

The Grand Master governs the Order both as sovereign and religious head. He is elected for life, within the professed knights in perpetual vows. He is assisted by and presides over the Sovereign Council, which is composed of four high offices - Grand Commander, Grand Chancellor, Grand Hospitaller, and Receiver of the Common Treasure - as well as six other members, all elected by the Order's Location General for a five-year term.

The Council of Government and the Board of Auditors, whose compositions reflect the international character of the Order, assist the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council. The Location General also elects these two bodies for a five-year term.

The legal system of the Order is expressed by the usual division into three powers:

Legislative power
Rests with the Grand Master and Sovereign Council for non-constitutional matters; with the Location General, representing the Supreme Assembly of Knights, as far as constitutional rules are concerned.

Executive power
Rests with the Sovereign Council, chaired by the Grand Master and composed of ten Knights elected by the Location General.

Judicial power
It is exercised by the Magistral Courts of First Instance and of Appeal, composed of judges appointed by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council from Order members of legal expertise.

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The Prince and Grand Master

The Grand Master is elected for life from the Professed Knights by the Council Complete of State. According to the Constitution, as the religious Superior and Sovereign, he must fully dedicate himself to the development of the works of the Order and to set an example of living by Christian principles, to all the members of the Order. He is vested with supreme authorities. Together with the Sovereign Council, the Grand Master issues the legislative measures not covered by the Constitutional Charter, promulgates government acts, manages Common Treasure assets, ratifies, international agreements and the summoning of the Chapter General.

The States with which the Order has diplomatic relations recognise the Grand Master with the prerogatives, immunities and honours reserved for Heads of State. He is bestowed the title of Most Eminent Highness, and the Holy Roman Church confers him the rank of Cardinal.

The Grand Master resides at the Order’s seat of government in Via Condotti in Rome

Profile of His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master,
Fra' Matthew FESTING

Fra’ Matthew Festing, an Englishman, was elected Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta on 11th March 2008 by the Council Complete of State of the Order of Malta. He succeeds Fra’ Andrew Bertie, 78th Grand Master (1988-2008), who died on 7 February.

Born in Northumberland on 30 november 1949, educated at Ampleforth and St. John’s College Cambridge, where he read history, Fra’ Matthew, an art expert, has for most of his professional life worked at an international art auction house. As a child he lived in Egypt and Singapore, where his father, Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, had earlier postings. He is also descended from Sir Adrian Fortescue, a knight of Malta, who was martyred in 1539.

Fra’ Matthew Festing served in the Grenadier Guards and holds the rank of colonel in the Territorial Army. He was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by the Queen and served as her Deputy Lieutenant in the county of Northumberland.

He became a member of the Sovereign Order of Malta in 1977, and took solemn religious vows in 1991, becoming a Professed Knight of the Order. Between 1993 and 2008 he was the Grand Prior of England. In this capacity, he has led missions of humanitarian aid to Kosovo, Serbia and Croatia after the recent disturbances in those countries, and he attends the Order’s international annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

As well as his passion for the decorative arts and for history, his encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of the Order of Malta is well known.

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The Grand Commander is the religious superior of the Professed Knights and of the Knights and Dames in Obedience. His duties include: spreading the principles of Faith, supervising Priories and Subpriories and compiling visitational reports to be sent to the Holy See on the state and life of the Order.

He sees to the religious aspects of the activities of Professed Knights and Knights in Obedience.
In particular he is in charge of instructing the members of the Sovereign Order in the fulfilment of the principles of Tuitio Fidei e Obsequium Pauperum.

The Grand Commander also takes care of the Magistral Palace Chapel and the organisation of pilgrimages. He acts as Interim Lieutenant in case of the death, resignation from office or permanent incapacity of the Grand Master.

Profile of the Grand Commander
H.E. the Venerable Bailiff
Fra’ Giacomo DALLA TORRE del TEMPIO di SANGUINETTO

He was born in Rome on December 9, 1944. He graduated in literature, and specialised in Christian archaeology and art history. Professor of literature and art history, he taught classical Greek in the Pontificia Università Urbaniana of Rome where he currently holds the position of Library Assistant.

He has written articles on the arts and bibliographic studies.

He was received into the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1985, becoming a Professed Knight in Perpetual Vows in 1993. From 1994 to 1999 he was the Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Lombardy and Venice. From 1999 to 2004 he has been a member of the Sovereign Council and various commissions.

He was elected Grand Commander of the Sovereign Order by the Location General of 2004.

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The Grand Chancellor, whose office includes the offices of the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the head of the executive branch. He is responsible for the Diplomatic Missions of the Order and relations with the National Associations. Under the authority of the Grand Master and the terms of the Constitutional Charter and Code, he is responsible for the representation of the Order to third parties, the carrying out of policy and the internal administration of the Order, as well as the coordination of the activities of the Government of the Order.

Profile of the Grand Chancellor H.E. Jean-Pierre MAZERY, Grand Cross of Grace and Devotion in Obedience

H.E. Jean-Pierre Mazery was elected Grand Chancellor by the Sovereign Council (the government of the Order) on April 16, 2005, following the resignation for family reasons of H.E. Bailiff Count Jacques de Liedekerke.

He is a graduate of the Sorbonne, Paris, in Economics, Social Sciences and Philosophy and the Faculty of Law, and of Harvard Business School. He is a fellow of the Hague Academy of International Law and former adviser to the Centre for Post-Graduate Studies in Armaments, of the French Ministry of Defence.

An economist and a professor of strategic business studies, he has consulted for the OECD, was head of mission, Ministry of the Environment, councillor to the Ministry for Cultural Affairs, the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry for Culture and Francophonie, and the Ministry of Defence. He has been a counsellor for International Trade to the French government, an expert adviser to the French Economic and Social Council, and a professor at the Centre for Post-Graduate Studies in Business and at the Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Paris. He is honorary chairman of the Association of the Fellows of the Institute for Higher Studies in National Defence in France.

Jean-Pierre Mazery, Knight Grand Cross of Grace and Devotion in Obedience, was received into the Order of Malta in 1975. He was elected member of the Council of the French Association in 1979; Chairman of the Foundation des Oeuvres Hospitalières Françaises de l'Ordre de Malte (2002), and Vice-chairman and General Treasurer of the Association des Ouvres Hospitalières Françaises de l'Ordre de Malte (1990-2005).
From 1984 to 1994 he was a member of the Board of Auditors of the Sovereign Order. From 1990 to 2002 he was a member of the Council of the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem. Elected a member of the Sovereign Council by the Chapter General of June 1999, he was President of the Order's Board of Communications from 1999 to 2004. Re-elected a member of the Sovereign Council by the Chapter General of June 2004, was appointed Vice-Chancellor in October 2004.
HE Jean-Pierre Mazery is Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur, Grand Cross of the Order Piano (Holy See), Grand Cross of the Italian Republic and holder of many decorations from other nations.

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The Grand Hospitaller's office includes the offices of Minister of Health and of Social Affairs, Minister for Humanitarian Action and Minister for International Co-operation. He co-ordinates and supervises the initiatives of Grand Priories and National Associations and other Order institutions world-wide involved in charitable and humanitarian actions, and ensures that Christian principles are respected.
The Grand Hospitaller is assisted by a Council composed of representatives of the various territorial regions where the Order operates.

Profile of the Grand Hospitaller
H. E. Albrecht Freiherr von BOESELAGER,
Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion in Obedience

He was born on October 4, 1949 in Kreuzberg/Ahr near Bonn; he is married, and has 5 children. He was educated in Bonn at the Jesuit college Aloisiuskolleg and graduated in Law in 1974 after studies in Bonn, Geneva and Freiburg. From 1968 to 1970 he served in the military force as reserve lieutenant. From 1976 to 1990 he worked as a professional lawyer.

He was admitted to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1976, and in 1985 became a Knight in Obedience. Since 1982 he has been the Chancellor of the German Association of the Order. Since the same year he has also been a member of the Executive Committee of the German Association's Ambulance Corps (Malteser Hilfsdienst).

He was elected member of the Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta as Grand Hospitaller in 1989, and was re-elected in 1994, in 1999 and 2004.

He has been a member of the Papal Council of the Pastoral for Health-Care Operators since 1990 and in the Pontificium Consilium Cor Unum since 1994.

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The Receiver of the Common Treasure - who is the Minister of Finance and Budget - directs the administration of the finances and the property of the Order in co-ordination with the Grand Chancellor, under the authority of the Grand Master and the surveillance of the Board of Auditors.

He is responsible for drawing up the annual accounts, budgeted and actual, relating to the economic and financial state of the Order, submitting them to the Board of Auditors and to the Grand Master for approval with the advice of the Sovereign Council.

With the advice of the Sovereign Council, he also submits the acceptance of inheritances, bequests and donations, and the disposal and subsequent reinvestment of the goods of the Order to the Grand Master for approval.

He manages and supervises the Magistral Post Service and, through the Secretary General, the internal services of the Magistral household, in particular the Office of Personnel of the Grand Magistry, the Office of Technical Services and the superintendence of the Magistral Palace and other buildings.
With the mandate of the Grand Master, the Receiver also supervises the administration of the organisations and work of the Order. He must countersign acts of disposal or assignment and contracts which involve the property of the Grand Magistry and the Priories.

Profile of the Receiver of the Common Treasure
H.E. the Marchese Gian Luca CHIAVARI Patrician Genoese,
Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion in Obedience

He was born in Rome on January 11, 1935, to H.E the Ambassador to the Italian Republic Marchese Gian Gerolamo Chiavari and Marchesa Laura Pallavicino. Married to Marchesa Elena Cattaneo della Volta di Belforte, Dame of Honour and Devotion in Obedience of the Order of Malta, he has three children: Fabiano, Violantina and Giacomo.

He graduated with honours in Business Administration at the University of Genova and was the Italian delegate to the International Associations of Students of Business Administration.

He served in the military as Officer of the Cavalry Regiment of Genova.

Until 1994 he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Shell Group in Italy and has worked for many years abroad with the Shell Group.

He was admitted to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1979, and took the vow of Obedience in 1983. He was elected Receiver of the Common Treasure by the 1999 Location General, and was re-elected in 2004.

He is Vice President of the Pilgrimages of the Italian Language and Director in the Magistral Committee for Pilgrimages to Lourdes. He has also been Director of ACISMOM and member of the Council for Communications of the Order.

He is Vice President of the Corps of Italian Nobility and President emeritus of the Association of Nobles of Liguria.

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Council Complete of State

The Council Complete of State meets to elect the Grand Master or the Lieutenant of the Grand Master. The election of the Grand Master requires a majority plus one of those present entitled to vote, as provided for in Art. 23 of the Constitutional Charter. Among the holders of voting rights are the Lieutenant of the Grand Master or Interim Lieutenant, the members of the Sovereign Council, the Prelate, the Priors, the professed Bailiffs, two professed Knights delegated by each Priory and fifteen representatives of the National Associations.

Chapter General

The Chapter General represents the Supreme Assembly of Knights and meets every five years to elect the members of the Sovereign Council, the Government Council and the Board of Auditors, to amend the Constitutional Charter and Code as appropriate and to discuss important issues such as spiritual status, the humanitarian activities programme and international relations of the Order. It is composed, among others, of representatives of Order bodies in the world: Grand Priories, Subpriories and National Associations.

Sovereign Council

The Sovereign Council is the government of the Order. It is composed of the Grand Master, the holders of the four High Offices (Grand Commander, Grand Chancellor, Grand Hospitaller and Receiver of the Common Treasure) and six other members. Apart from the Grand Master, they are elected by the Location General, by a majority of the Knights present. The Sovereign Council is called by the Grand Master and meets at the seat of the Order at least six times a year and whenever special circumstances require it.

The other six members of the Sovereign Council are:
H.E. Fra’ Gherardo HERCOLANI FAVA SIMONETTI
H.E. Fra’ John A. MacPHERSON
H.E. Fra’ Elie de COMMINGES
H.E. Fra’ Carlo d'IPPOLITO di SANT'IPPOLITO
H.E. Antonio R. SANCHEZ-COREA, Jr.
H.E. Winfried HENCKEL von DONNERSMARCK

Government Council

This is the advisory board to the Sovereign Council in charge of studying political, religious, humanitarian assistance and international issues. It is convened and chaired by the Grand Master and is composed of six Councillors from various geographical regions elected by the Location General among Knights in the three Classes of the Order. It meets at least twice a year.

Board of Auditors

Is in charge of overseeing and auditing the income, the expenditures and all the assets of the Order. It consists of a President, four ordinary Councillors and two alternates, elected by the Location General, from amongst Knights with particular expertise in legal, economic and financial disciplines. It also serves as an advisory board of the Receiver of the Common Treasure.

Communications Board

The Communication Board supervises the internal and external communication activities of the Order and assists the Grand Chancellor in the development and implementation of communication programmes. It is composed of a President and six Councillors chosen from members of the Order, competent in various sectors of communication, management, public relations and mass-media.

Juridical Council

This is an expert advisory collegial body that may advise the Grand Master, subject to consultation with the Sovereign Council, on relevant legal issues. It meets at the seat of the Order and is composed of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary General and four members.
These are appointed by the Grand Master with the advice of the Sovereign Council ideally from members of the Order, and are law experts, particularly in Order Law, public and international law and Canon Law.

Magistral Courts

Pursuant to the Code, the Magistral Courts exercise the jurisdictional function of court of first resort and of appeal. The Presidents of the Court, the Justices and the Chancellor are appointed by the Grand Master, with the deciding vote of the Sovereign Council, among Order members with legal expertise. Trial procedures, except for directives set forth by the Code, are subject to the rules of civil procedure of the State of the Vatican City. Upon written request of States or international law entities, the Magistral Courts may also act as an arbitration venue for international controversies.

The Office of Advocate General

The Office of Advocate General provides legal assistance pursuant to the Code and is made up of independent members of the legal profession of eminent repute who are experts in law and versed in the traditions and customs of the Order. It is composed of the Advocate General and two alternates who are appointed by the Grand Master with the Sovereign Council for a period of three years renewable. The organisations of the Order should seek the advice and the assistance of the Office of the Advocate General whenever necessary and especially in cases which involve complex legal issue.

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The Order of Malta is one of the few Orders created in the Middle Ages and still active today. It is also the only one that is at the same time religious and sovereign. This is due to the fact that most of the other Orders of chivalry lacked the hospitaller function which characterises the Order of Malta, so they disappeared as soon as the military purposes that represented the reasons for their existence ceased.

The knighthood nature explains and justifies the maintenance of the noble nature of the Order, as most of its Religious Knights came from chivalrous and noble Christian families. Today the majority of Knights belong to all classes of society. The members of the Order may be defined as Catholics enlivened by altruistic nobleness of spirit and behaviour. All Knights must meet the traditional requirement for the bestowing of knighthood: distinguish themselves for special virtues. The knighthood nature of the Order has kept its moral value, characterised by the spirit of service, sacrifice and discipline of today's Knights. Battles are no longer fought with swords, but with the peaceful tools of the fight against disease, poverty, social isolation and intolerance, as well as the defence and promotion of the faith.

All the 12,500 Knights and Dames of the Order, whether professed friars or lay members, are devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity, and committed to achieving their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies caring for others.

The three Classes

According to the Constitutional Charter, the members of the Order are divided into three Classes. The members are to conduct their lives in an exemplary manner in conformity with the teachings and precepts of the Church and to devote themselves to the humanitarian assistance activities of the Order.

Members of the First Class are Knights of Justice, or Professed Knights, and the Professed Conventual Chaplains, who have made vows of "poverty, chastity and obedience aspiring to perfection according to the Gospel". They are religious for all purposes of Canon Law but are not obliged to live in community.

The members of the Second Class, by virtue of the Promise of Obedience, are committed to living according to Christian principles and the inspiring principles of the Order. They are subdivided into three categories:

- Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion in Obedience
- Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion in Obedience
- Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace in Obedience

The Third Class consists of lay members who do not profess religious vows or the Promise, but who live according to the principles of the Church and the Order. They are divided into six categories:

- Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion
- Conventual Chaplains ad honorem
- Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion
- Magistral Chaplains
- Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace
- Donats (male and female) of Devotion

The requisites for admission to the various classes and categories are determined by the Code.

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