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The Order Is

Upholding human dignity and caring for people in need

The Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation. It is a lay religious order of the Catholic Church founded in the late 11th century and given papal recognition and approval by the bull Pie postulatio voluntatis of Pope Pascal II in 1113. It arose from a group of hospitallers of the Hospice of Saint John of Jerusalem, who had been called upon by historical circumstances to augment their original charitable enterprise with chivalrous service for the defence of pilgrims to the Holy Land and of Christian civilization in the East, which in time became sovereign on the Islands of Rhodes and later Malta. 

Today, the Order of Malta is active in 120 countries caring for people in need through its medical, social and humanitarian works. Day-to-day, its broad spectrum of social projects provides a constant support for forgotten or excluded members of society. It is especially involved in helping people living in the midst of armed conflicts and natural disasters by providing medical assistance, caring for refugees, and distributing medicines and basic equipment for survival. Across the world, the Order of Malta is dedicated to the preservation of human dignity and the care of all those in need, regardless of their origin or religion.

Since 1834 the Order of Malta’s government seat has been in Rome, where it is guaranteed extraterritorial rights. Fra’ John Dunlap is the 81st and current Prince and Grand Master in the succession from the Founder and first Master Blessed Gerard. 

With permanent presence in 55 countries, through the intermediary of six Grand Priories, six Sub-Priories and 48 National Associations, the Order of Malta is dedicated to the care of the sick and the poor, by 13,000 Knights and Dames of Malta, 80,000 volunteers, and 42,000 doctors, nurses and health care professionals, in more than 200 hospitals, medical centers, and emergency relief and ambulance corps.

The Order of Malta is a subject of international law. It has diplomatic relations with 118 countries in the world.  It is a Permanent Observer in the United Nations, and is a member of its Special Agencies UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHCHR, UNIDO, IAEA, WHO and WFP.  It has delegations or representations to international organizations including the European Union, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Geneva, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome, the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) in Bruxelles, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, the International Organization for Migration (ICM) in Geneva, and the Union Latina in Santo Domingo and Paris.

Contributions to the charitable humanitarian services of the Order of Malta will be gratefully received. Contributions are exempt from federal and provincial taxation as charitable contributions.

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