It retained its sovereignty. Quoting from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Mili

It retained its sovereignty. Quoting from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Mal... Although this state came to an end with the ejection of the Order from Malta by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Order as such survived. It retains its claims of sovereignty under international law and has been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations.