Editing Sovereign Military Order of Malta (section)

===Issues of sovereignty===
One of the most persistent criticisms revolves around the Order's claim of being a sovereign subject of international law, despite having lost its territory centuries ago. 

* Debate among legal scholars: Legal experts continue to debate the legitimacy of the Order's sovereign status. Critics argue that modern international law requires a state to have a defined territory and population. They suggest the Order's diplomatic relations with over 100 states do not automatically confer sovereign statehood.
* Functional vs. full sovereignty: While the Order does enjoy certain sovereign prerogatives, such as issuing passports, the Holy See has stated that the Order's "sovereign quality is functional," which differs from the "full sense" of sovereignty held by a nation-state.
* Vatican interference: The Order's sovereignty was severely tested by a 2017 governance crisis, which concluded with direct intervention by Pope Francis. He oversaw the implementation of a new constitution and appointed new leadership, which some critics saw as proof that the Order's sovereignty was subservient to the Holy See.