[piusv]

The Order of Malta is a unique animal, since it’s both a religious order (think Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, or the Jesuits) and it’s the world’s smallest sovereign state. The Pope has spiritual authority over the Order of Malta, but he does NOT have any authority over how they govern.

I will continue to disagree with your assessment here per Vatican I: If anyone thus speaks, that the Roman Pontiff has only the office of inspection or direction, but not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal Church, not only in things which pertain to faith and morals, but also in those which pertain to the discipline and government of the Church spread over the whole world; or, that he possesses only the more important parts, but not the whole plenitude of this supreme power; or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate, or over the churches altogether and individually, and over the pastors and the faithful altogether and individually: let him be anathema.

There are no exceptions for Catholic orders that are "sovereign nations" or any other such exceptions. I'm not sure why Catholics keep wanting to give exceptions here. Francis may be governing poorly or even in an evil manner, but if he is a true pope then he has the right to govern the whole Church by God.

[milford421]

I have been confused by the whole incident. Thank you for your comments - and I agree - true Popes have the right to govern the whole Church by God.

Found this on LifeSite and it filled in some missing information for me:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/order-of-malta-at-odds-with-vatican-over-grand-chancellors-dismissal