Sovereign Military Order of Malta

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (Latin: Supremus Ordo Militaris Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodius et Melitensis), also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) or Order of Malta, is a Catholic lay religious order traditionally of military, chivalrous and noble nature, founded as the Knights Hospitaller circa 1099 in Jerusalem, Kingdom of Jerusalem, by Gerard Thom, as the world's oldest surviving order of chivalry.Headquartered in Palazzo Malta in Rome, widely considered a sovereign subject of international law, its mission is summed up in its motto: "Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum"; protecting the Catholic faith and serving those in need.

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is the modern Rome-based continuation of the medieval Knights Hospitaller, with origins in the Fraternitas Hospitalaria hospital founded circa 1048 by Amalfitan merchants in the Muristan district of Jerusalem, Fatimid Caliphate, to provide medical care for pilgrims to the Holy Land. Following the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade and the loss of the Kingdom of Jerusalem to the Mamluk Sultanate, it became chartered as a military order to protect against Islamic persecution of Christians, recognised as sovereign in 1113 by Pope Paschal II. It operated from Cyprus (1291-1310), Rhodes (1310–1523), Malta (1530–1798), over which it was sovereign until its French occupation, and from Palazzo Malta in Rome from 1834 until present day, subsequently known under its current name. The order venerates as patroness Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Philermos".
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Luca for this Pantheon card sent with S.M.O.M stamp

and postmark. Still hoping that I can get a Palazzo Malta card with

S.M.O.M stamp and postmark :D 

Sent: 4 January 2016    Received: 16 February 2016   Travelled: 43 days