Under their guidance, the Order is beginning to fulfil the place that awaits it, signing bilateral treaties of reciprocal recognition with other Sovereign States which have affirmed its independence and sovereignty, giving life to the Foundation responsible for the management of humanitarian activities within the Order.
All of this has happened whilst not forgetting to reinforce the structure of the Order, extending its presence on a global scale, in Europe, America, Australia, with particular attention paid to Middle Eastern territories where the roots of the Order lie. The Order has also reviewed its values and its original objectives, due to the changes taking place from a historical, cultural and social perspective.
In December of 2006 for health reasons, H.R.H. Prince Don Roberto entrusted the role of Grand Master of the Order to Prince Don Thorbjorn Paternò Castello Guttadauro di Valencia d’Ayerbe d’Aragona dei Duchi di Carcaci e dei Principi d’Emanuel.
From this point of view, the constitution of the new Government, substituted by existing structures and by now not in line with current times, has among its institutional tasks that of recalling to the Order “the various existent branches without legitimate premises, recovering those who have lost the right path and who wish to review their position” (or using legal procedures to prohibit those without historical right to take advantage of the name and symbols of the Order).
The Order has also renewed its ecumenical tradition inaugurated by Paul I of Russia. In fact, there are currently members of the Order who are non-Christians, thanks to whom the millenary history of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem – Knights of Malta – is perpetuated, regardless of religious belief.
The sovereignty and independence of the Order is by now an accomplished fact on the plane of international law, apart from the numerous recognitions of such before and after the Maltese period (1530-1798).
Considering that:
- As per article 13 of the Protocol of Buenos Aires of 1967, recognition implies acceptance from the part of the State which issues the agreement, in the quality of “State” to the agreeing State;
- the quality of State is not reduced as a result of modifications of its territorial consistency;
- recognition conceded by a State involves the opposability in its regards (v. Nguyen Quoc Dinh, “Droit International Public”, ed. L.G.D.J. – Paris 1994, pp. 404, 532);
- sovereignty means the refusal of all authority other than its own, with the obvious respect of the rules of the international community, and that the opening of a diplomatic representation constitutes de jure implicit recognition (v. O. Schwarzenberger, “A Manual of International Law”, ed. Stevens & Sons – London 1967),
the fact is confirmed that due to the existence of numerous States which have diplomatic representation with the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem – Knights of Malta – the organization possesses full sovereignty on the plane of international law.