Overview of the Pontifical Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See
The Papal Equestrian Orders as represented in Great Britain today are not as many believe the direct descendants of medieval Orders of Chivalry but are, in their present form, of comparatively recent origin. They nevertheless represent one of the highest and most prestigious distinctions which the Pope, as Supreme Pontiff and Head of the Roman Catholic Church and as Sovereign of the Vatican City State, can bestow on an individual. Such awards are made to lay men and women of the Catholic faith as well as to those of other Christian denominations and other faiths in recognition of their pre-eminent service offered to their faith, community, or the work of the Holy See on a local, national and international level. The majority of recipients are Roman Catholic although within Great Britain are knights and dames who are Protestants, Anglicans, Muslims and Jews.
Although the Pontifical Orders of Knighthood were founded for, and remained the prerogative of gentlemen, in November 1993, the Papal Secretariat of State issued instructions, that the Orders of Pius IX, Saint Gregory the Great and of Pope Saint Sylvester were now open to ladies.
Currently, the Pontifical Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See are as follows:
- The Supreme Order of Christ
- The Pontifical Order of the Golden Spur
- The Pontifical Order of Pius IX
- The Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great
- The Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester
The Supreme Order of Christ
Admission to the Supreme Order of Christ, the Pontifical Order of the Golden Spur and the Collar of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX are reserved solely for reigning Sovereigns and Heads of State. They are very rarely bestowed and  only then during significant state and official visits made to the Vatican City by foreign dignitaries or during a state, official or pastoral visit made by the Supreme Pontiff to foreign country.
The Supreme Order of Christ can only be bestowed on Heads of State professing the Roman Catholic faith. Among previous recipients were HE President Charles de Gaulle of the French Republic, HE President Antonio Segni of the Italian Republic, President Eamon de Valera of Ireland (right) and German Federal Chancellor Dr Konrad Adenauer.
 The last award of the Supreme Order of Christ was made by Pope John Paul II (left) in 1987 to HMEH Frà Angelo de Mojana, 77th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. With his death one year later, and the subsequent death of fellow recipient, HM King Baudouin of the Belgians in 1993, there are no living holders of the Order of Christ today.
It is considered by some that the failure to award this decoration since 1993 m ay well indicate that this Order has been placed in abeyance by the Holy See preferring instead to bestow the Collar of the Order of Pius IX.
The Pontifical Order of the Golden Spur
 The Pontifical Order of the Golden Spur which HSH Prince Rainier III of Monaco (right), HE President Theodor Heuss of West Germany, HM King Frederick IX of Denmark and HIM Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran were among its past recipients, has also not been bestowed for a number of years. HRH Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg is among those remaining living recipients of this award.
The Pontifical Order of Pius IX
 The Pontifical Order of Pius IX is the most senior active Pontifical Order in use today. Its highest grades in general terms are reserved for Sovereigns and Heads of State, its middle ranks to those such as senior diplomats accredited to the Holy See. Living recipients of the higher ranks include HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain (left) and HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Previous  recipients included the late HM King Olav V of Norway and the late HM King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden.
There are currently no known living holders of the Order of Pius IX in Great Britain. Previous British receipants included HMEH Frà Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, His Grace Miles, Duke of Norfolk and Lord Hunt of Tanworth.
The Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great
In Great Britain the majority of Papal Knights and Dames belong to the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great although an increasing number have been awarded the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester. Among recipients of the Order of Saint Gregory are the former German Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former MEP Archduke Otto von Habsburg. Past British recipients included HM Ambassador Sir Ashley Clarke, leading Catholic layman Sir Harold Hood (right) and Lord Lovat.
HE Count Andrzej Ciechanowiecki is the only living recipient in Britain of the Order's highest grade  of Knight Grand Cross. Other British Association members include, Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, Jim Dobbin, MP, Lord Brennan of Bibury, The Rt Hon John Battle MP, Lord Clarke of Hampstead, the Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP, Baroness Hooper, Lord Mark Fitzalan Howard, General Sir Richard Lawson, Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Lord Nolan, Peter Sutherland, Baroness Masham of Ilton, Lord Alton of Liverpool and Sir Tom Farmer.
The Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester
Among past recipients of the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester are Oscar Schindler - the German Industralist and Yad Vashem honouree, former Maltese Prime Minister George Borg Olivier, the father of the CIA Major General William Joseph Donovan, Prince Karl August von Thurn und Taxi, entertainer Bob Hope, KBE, and Italian politician Sergio Berlinguer.
In Great Britain, interfaith campaigner HE Anthony Bailey is the only living recipient of the Order's highest grade of Knight Grand Cross. Other members of the British Association include businessman John Studzinski, art collector Professor David Khalili and philanthropist Mahmoud Khayami.
|
