The Knights of Malta asked Pope Francis to stay away from the internal affairs of the order. Reported by the Associated Press.
The reason was the intention of the pontiff to investigate the circumstances of the overthrow of the Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Albrecht Freiher von Boselager. The Pope announced the creation of a special commission.
In response, the order issued a statement stating that all personnel changes "are acts of internal government of the sovereign Order of Malta, and no one has the right to interfere in them." His representatives also stated that the decision to investigate was a consequence of misunderstanding, and sent a letter to the pontiff with explanations.
The scandal that led to the deposition of Boselager erupted after the headquarters of the order in Rome learned about his too liberal interpretation of the dogmas of Catholicism. As a Grand Hospitaller with responsibility for health, humanitarian and international affairs, he organized free condom distributions for local sex slaves during a charity campaign in Myanmar in an effort to reduce HIV incidence.
The leadership of the order considered that Boselager's actions violated the principles of church teaching, which prohibits artificial contraception. All condom distribution programs were immediately terminated, and the brothers in the order, with the support of the papal envoy, Cardinal Burke, urged him to resign. At the same time, Burke even stated that the papal throne insists on the removal.
On December 6, Boselager voluntarily left the post of the Grand Hospitaller, but later found out that the Vatican did not demand his resignation, and complained to the pontiff. Burke's position poured fuel on the fire: Francis appointed him as his representative to the order in 2014 after he was removed from his post at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature (the highest court of the Catholic Church). Burke is known as a conservative and harsh critic of the Pope.
The Order of Malta is a knightly religious order of the Catholic Church. It has the status of an observer organization at the UN and the Council of Europe, maintains diplomatic relations with 105 states. The order itself considers itself a state, although this statement is disputed by many international lawyers. At the same time, the order issues its own passports, prints stamps and currency. The Grand Master of the order is the papal viceroy.