These figures speak for themselves especially when taking into account that ACISMOM had organised and was managing two hospitals at that same time. In 1940 the Association of Italian Knights mobilised all its sanitary services and put two hospitals, some first aid stations and three hospital trains at the disposal of the Italian army. The trains carried out 79 voyages in Italy, Croatia, Germany and Poland and 23,187 wounded were transported. A fourth train, organised for the Italian expeditionary forces in Russia, brought back 2,552 sick and wounded soldiers. Nine hundred soldiers who were retreating in a heavy snow storm were taken on board to safety during one of the last voyages.

The Armistice, signed on September 8th 1943, obliged ACISMOM and the Military Corps to intervene not only in the operation zones but also in the natioanl territory devastated by civil war and in the liberation zones. They strengthened the hospitals already existing in Rome and Naples and the same happened in Turin and Milan.

The centres of assistance that were set up during those dramatic days were countless. In the city of Rome alone there were 34, and to deal with such a vast organisation the Military Corps enrolled, thanks to its particular prerogatives, hundreds and hundreds of young men who in that way escaped capture or forced labour camps. While Italy was being liberated, they ran hospitals for the wounded, ex-servicemen and ex-prisoners of war. The Banner of the Italian Association has been awarded a gold Medal of Merit for health services, a silver one for military service, two bronze Medals and numerous recognitions.

ACISMOM has been undergoing a renewal phase since 1986 thanks, initially, to Grand Master, Fra' Angelo de Mojana. Today the Italian Association has numerous medical centres, the most important of which is the Hospital of San Giovanni Battista alla Magliana on the outskirts of Rome, for the rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients. A highly specialized hospital and one of the few existing in Italy intended for the treatment of patients and research in the sector. The development of this complex has been the constant concern of the Office of the Receiver of the Common Treasure at the Grand Magistry, which has assisted the Commissioners responsible over the years by promoting investments totalling around eight billion Italian Liras from the Pergami Belluzzi Baldi Foundation. This Foundation is more than ever present

Wing of the St. John the Baptist Hospital at Magliana (Rome).

today at the hospital at the Magliana, where the recently inaugurated laboratories of analysis and department of radiology are dedicated to its good name.

During 1995 the Receiver of the Common Treasure, in line with the powers accorded to him by Art. 179 of the Order of Malta Code and in full agreement with the President of the Italian Association Don Giovan Pietro dei Duchi Caffarelli, organized the updating of the computer systems in use by ACISMOM in order to make them compatible to link up with all the other sanitary centres of the Order throughout the world.

The Italian Association of Knights runs several anti-diabetic centres and, in Rome, the medical centre in Via Bocca di Leone within the same block as the Magistral Palace. For a long time, the Grand Priory of Rome has had several centres dedicated to the collection of medicines and assistance for the elderly. Recently, the Grand Priory has increased its activity in the area, in favour of needy people.

To return to operations accomplished during wars and natural calamities, Italian Knights, together with Knights from other European nations, rushed to Hungary in 1956 during the revolution and the following Soviet occupation. Help was given to Polesine during the floods and to Belice, Friuli and Irpinia where they assisted, with very good results, the Order of Malta Italian Aid Corps (CISOM), a First Aid Organisation which several other Associations had also previously constituted. CISOM is integrated into the Italian Civil Defence System.

The Association of German Knights set up field hospitals in Vietnam and the long and bloody battle did not spare some of the men carrying the White eight pointed Cross who there lost their lives.

The present organisation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is not very different from that during the Order's early centuries. The sovereignty of the Order is exercised by the Prince and Grand Master who governs, together with the Sovereign Council which is composed of four high charges: the Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, the Hospitaller and the Receiver of the Common Treasure, together with four councillors and two alternates elected by Chapter General from among the professed Knights, when and if available, i.e., among those who have taken the vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Chapter General is the Supreme Assembly of Knights normally summoned every five years in order to elect the members of Government. The Council Complete of State, on the summoned exclusively for the election of the Grand Master. The two Assemblies are composed of the representatives of the Grand Priories, the Priories and the National Associations.

The Master carries the title of both Eminence and Highness or Eminent Highness and is universally recognised as a Head of State to whom all honours of a Sovereign are due.

The Supreme Pontiff appoints as his representative a Cardinal to whom is given the name "Cardinalis Patronus" who is assisted by the Prelate of the Order who is likewise appointed by the Holy Father. The Prelate is the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Cler of the Order and assists the Grand Master in matters regarding spirituality.

The life and activities of the Order are regulated by the Constitutional Charter and the Code while particularly important juridical problems are submitted to the Juridical Council. For any controversies not regarding Canon Law and the Ecclesiastical Court, the Order has its own Court of the First Instance and Court of Appeal whose magistrates are appointed directly by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council. A Board of Auditors controls financial and economic matters.

The Order has diplomatic relations with eighty countries with an exchange of Ambassadors. Recently the Order has been admitted to the United Nations as a Permanent Observer.

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