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.
That quotation appears to assert or deal with papal authority over the RC Church. The Church recognized the
sovereignty of the knights of Malta as long ago as 1113. Pope Benedict also recognized the order’s sovereignty in modern times. The order and Vatican relate via embassies to each other. The order enjoys recognition of its independent sovereignty by 106 nations. I’m not it’s apologist and it has been accused of a lot of very questionable activities ( it may not be just a medical assistance outfit) — but be that as it may, the sovereign order of knights of malta , etal....certainly doesn’t appear to be an integral part of the RC Church organization ———? ?? That’s all I was reacting to. I will let other, more informed folks carry this question forward as that’s all I knows. Thanks