The World's Most Unique Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Inheriting a 900-Year Medical and Humanitarian Mission
A feature on the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, an entity with sovereignty but no territory. Exploring its 900-year history from the Crusades to modern medical aid, and highlighting its long-term humanitarian cooperation with Taiwan.
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- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 08:53
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Central News
(CNA Correspondent Huang Ya-shih in Rome, 25th) A red flag bearing a white eight-pointed cross flies above the Forum of Augustus in Rome. This beautiful building is the headquarters of the Italian Association of the "Sovereign Military Order of Malta," the world's most unique sovereign entity. For 900 years, it has dedicated itself to medical and humanitarian aid, active in over 120 countries, and serves as an important long-term partner of Taiwan.
The "Sovereign Military Order of Malta" originated in the second half of the 11th century as a Catholic medical order founded in Jerusalem during the Crusades. Currently headquartered in Rome, it is an international legal entity with a special status. Its head, known as the Grand Master, possesses sovereign status and can issue stamps and passports. Since 1994, it has been a permanent observer at the United Nations and maintains diplomatic relations with 115 countries.
Besides its political center on Via dei Condotti in central Rome, the Order of Malta has "associations" in 50 countries worldwide to promote medical and humanitarian actions.
CNA was recently invited to visit the headquarters of the "Italian Association of the Order of Malta" located at the Forum of Augustus (Foro di Augusto) to introduce this unique humanitarian organization to Taiwanese audiences—an organization that still upholds the "chivalric spirit" today and reaches deeply into many impoverished and war-torn corners of the world.
The building housing the association is known as "La Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi" (The House of the Knights of Rhodes). Eugenio Ajroldi di Robbiate, spokesperson for the Order of Malta, told CNA that this location is highly significant. Because the Order was founded in Jerusalem, this was the first building the knights settled in when they came to Rome in the 13th century.
"This building is highly esteemed by historians and the arts and cultural circles because it combines features from three periods: Ancient Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance," Ajroldi di Robbiate explained. Some walls of the building date back to the Ancient Roman period, and after several modifications, it developed a diverse appearance. The most important renovation took place in 1446, led by Cardinal Marco Barbo, who was then the Grand Master of the Order and a nephew of the late Pope Paul II.
Entering the association, the reception area is the historically significant "Hall of Flags," which displays flags representing the 8 "ancient language systems" into which the Order was grouped. Ajroldi di Robbiate explained that during the Middle Ages when the Order ruled Rhodes, prominent families who came to serve the Order originated from all over Europe. To facilitate communication during battle, the Order grouped its members by language system. "Some historians call this cross-border cooperation a prototype of the European Union."
After being expelled from the island of Malta by French Emperor Napoleon in 1798, the Order lost its territory. In 1834, with the permission of the Pope at the time, the Order was restored in Rome. Since then, the Order no longer groups members by traditional languages but manages them by establishing "associations" in various countries, currently numbering 50 globally.
"The Order of Malta was initially established in Jerusalem to manage a hospital for pilgrims. This mission of helping poor patients runs through the entire history of the Order," Ajroldi di Robbiate stated. In the past, the Order also had military functions, mainly because it was located on the borders between Western and Middle Eastern countries and the Muslim faith for a long time, necessitating self-defense capabilities. The Order's military functions ended in 1798, and today medical and social welfare activities have become its primary tasks.
Taiwan has long cooperated with the Order of Malta on humanitarian aid. The Taiwanese Embassy to the Holy See, representing the Taiwan government, donated funds on January 26 this year to sponsor the "Holy Family Hospital Poverty Relief Project" promoted by the Order in Bethlehem.
The Order of Malta is particularly committed to humanitarian aid in difficult or war-torn regions. Ajroldi di Robbiate stated that the Order has established bilateral relations with up to 115 countries. Especially in areas most in need, such as Africa and Southeast Asia, the Order can often engage in high-level dialogues to ensure humanitarian aid reaches every corner. This is the biggest difference between the Order and other civilian humanitarian organizations. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping)
(CNA Correspondent Huang Ya-shih in Rome, 25th) A red flag bearing a white eight-pointed cross flies above the Forum of Augustus in Rome. This beautiful building is the headquarters of the Italian Association of the "Sovereign Military Order of Malta," the world's most unique sovereign entity. For 900 years, it has dedicated itself to medical and humanitarian aid, active in over 120 countries, and serves as an important long-term partner of Taiwan.
The "Sovereign Military Order of Malta" originated in the second half of the 11th century as a Catholic medical order founded in Jerusalem during the Crusades. Currently headquartered in Rome, it is an international legal entity with a special status. Its head, known as the Grand Master, possesses sovereign status and can issue stamps and passports. Since 1994, it has been a permanent observer at the United Nations and maintains diplomatic relations with 115 countries.
Besides its political center on Via dei Condotti in central Rome, the Order of Malta has "associations" in 50 countries worldwide to promote medical and humanitarian actions.
CNA was recently invited to visit the headquarters of the "Italian Association of the Order of Malta" located at the Forum of Augustus (Foro di Augusto) to introduce this unique humanitarian organization to Taiwanese audiences—an organization that still upholds the "chivalric spirit" today and reaches deeply into many impoverished and war-torn corners of the world.
The building housing the association is known as "La Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi" (The House of the Knights of Rhodes). Eugenio Ajroldi di Robbiate, spokesperson for the Order of Malta, told CNA that this location is highly significant. Because the Order was founded in Jerusalem, this was the first building the knights settled in when they came to Rome in the 13th century.
"This building is highly esteemed by historians and the arts and cultural circles because it combines features from three periods: Ancient Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance," Ajroldi di Robbiate explained. Some walls of the building date back to the Ancient Roman period, and after several modifications, it developed a diverse appearance. The most important renovation took place in 1446, led by Cardinal Marco Barbo, who was then the Grand Master of the Order and a nephew of the late Pope Paul II.
Entering the association, the reception area is the historically significant "Hall of Flags," which displays flags representing the 8 "ancient language systems" into which the Order was grouped. Ajroldi di Robbiate explained that during the Middle Ages when the Order ruled Rhodes, prominent families who came to serve the Order originated from all over Europe. To facilitate communication during battle, the Order grouped its members by language system. "Some historians call this cross-border cooperation a prototype of the European Union."
After being expelled from the island of Malta by French Emperor Napoleon in 1798, the Order lost its territory. In 1834, with the permission of the Pope at the time, the Order was restored in Rome. Since then, the Order no longer groups members by traditional languages but manages them by establishing "associations" in various countries, currently numbering 50 globally.
"The Order of Malta was initially established in Jerusalem to manage a hospital for pilgrims. This mission of helping poor patients runs through the entire history of the Order," Ajroldi di Robbiate stated. In the past, the Order also had military functions, mainly because it was located on the borders between Western and Middle Eastern countries and the Muslim faith for a long time, necessitating self-defense capabilities. The Order's military functions ended in 1798, and today medical and social welfare activities have become its primary tasks.
Taiwan has long cooperated with the Order of Malta on humanitarian aid. The Taiwanese Embassy to the Holy See, representing the Taiwan government, donated funds on January 26 this year to sponsor the "Holy Family Hospital Poverty Relief Project" promoted by the Order in Bethlehem.
The Order of Malta is particularly committed to humanitarian aid in difficult or war-torn regions. Ajroldi di Robbiate stated that the Order has established bilateral relations with up to 115 countries. Especially in areas most in need, such as Africa and Southeast Asia, the Order can often engage in high-level dialogues to ensure humanitarian aid reaches every corner. This is the biggest difference between the Order and other civilian humanitarian organizations. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping)