Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Have you ever heard of knights? Usually, we think of them in shining armor fighting dragons! But the Knights of Malta are special knights who don't fight.

They are part of a very old group called the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. They are like a team of helpers who have been around for almost a thousand years! Their main job is to help people who are sick, poor, or need care.

They are like superheroes, but instead of capes, they wear uniforms and help with kindness.

These knights started a super long time ago, around the year 1099! That's even before your grandparents' grandparents were born! They began in a place called the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Back then, they were called the Knights Hospitaller, and they took care of sick people who were traveling. Over many years, they grew and changed, moving to different islands like Rhodes and then Malta. That's how they got their name!

They are still led by a Grand Master, like a captain of their helping team.

Even though the Knights of Malta don't have their own country or land, they are super important! They have a special status, like being VIP guests, in the United Nations, which is a big group of countries that try to keep peace. They have about 52,000 doctors and nurses and 100,000 volunteers helping people in over 120 countries!

That's more countries than you can count on your fingers and toes many times over! They help kids, old people, and anyone who needs a hand.

The Knights of Malta have some really cool 'superpowers'! They can make their own passports, coins, and stamps, just like a country can! They also have special buildings in Rome that are like their own little countries, called extraterritorial.

This means they are treated like they are outside of Italy. They have official friends, called diplomats, in 115 countries. It's like having pen pals in almost every country in the world who help them do their good work!