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

The Creation of Adam

The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting by Michelangelo, which forms part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, painted c. 1511–1512. It illustrates the Biblical creation narrative from the Book of Genesis in which God breathes life into Adam, the first man. The fresco is part of a complex iconographic scheme and is chronologically the fourth in the series of panels depicting episodes from Genesis. It is the most well-known of the Sistine Chapel fresco panels, and its fame as a masterpiece of art is rivaled only by Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which took approximately four years to complete (1508–1512).[6] According to Condivi's account, Bramante, who was working on the building of St Peter's Basilica, resented Michelangelo's commission for the Pope's tomb and convinced the Pope to commission him in a medium with which he was unfamiliar, in order that he might fail at the task.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Luca for this wonderful surprise card sent from Vatican City.

I am lucky to have been able to witness this beautiful art four years ago in

the Sistine chapel ^_^

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