ROME (AP) - The embattled Knights of Malta has summoned its top governing body for a special session to formally accept the resignation of its leader after the pope announced a takeover of the sovereign lay Catholic group. The meeting is set for Saturday.
The Vatican announced it was taking over the order after the chief knight, Matthew Festing, openly defied Pope Francis in a public spat over condoms. Festing resigned on Tuesday and the Vatican announced it would name a papal delegate to run the order.
The Vatican’s intervention is extraordinary given the Knights of Malta isn’t a typical religious order like the Jesuits, but rather a sovereign entity under international law, one that has diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries, the Holy See included.
The move marks an extraordinary intervention of one sovereign state – the Holy See – into the governance of another – the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, an ancient aristocratic order that runs a vast charity operation around the globe.
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