Malta

Malta has been host to many different civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Italians, French and British.  It received self-rule and a constitution from the British in 1921, but this was revoked during the Second World War, and it was not until 1964 that Malta achieved independence.  In 1974 the constitution was revised and the government reorganized as a parliamentary republic.  During the Crusades, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, gave Malta the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, who remained in control of the island until the nineteenth century, when it was colonized by Britain.  Virtually all citizens of Malta are baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, which is the state church and dominates the social and cultural life of the island.  The Roman Catholic Church also owns over one-sixth of all property on the island, and publishes its daily newspaper.  In addition, it is influential in education and health care.  There are no WCC member churches based in this country.