The Knights of Malta crisis brought rare attention to the issue of sovereignty for entities that are not territorial states – like the Holy See and the Order of Malta. (It is the Holy See – the universal pastor of the Church – not the Vatican City State which maintains diplomatic relations with states and is an actor in international law.)
In the initial stages of the conflict between the Holy Father and the Grand Master there was apparent intrusion by the Holy See into the internal, sovereign affairs of the Order of Malta. But after the defenestration of the Grand Master, all official statements and records were adjusted to reflect that the sovereignty of the Order of Malta had been respected. The Grand Master accepted a “proposal” that he resign, the governing council acted in accord with its constitution and the papal legate with plenipotentiary power is limited exclusively to the religiously professed knights. He will have nothing to do with the sovereign and diplomatic functions.
