Papal Order of Knighthood of the Holy See
ThePontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (Latin :Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni ;Italian :Ordine di San Gregorio Magno ) was established on 1 September 1831, byPope Gregory XVI , seven months after his election as Pope.[ 1]
The order is one of the fiveorders of knighthood of the Holy See . The honor is bestowed uponCatholic men and women (and certain notable non-Catholics)[ 2] Holy See and to the Catholic Church, through their unusual labors, their support of the Holy See, and the examples they set in their communities and their countries.
History and appointment [ edit ] The inaugural brief states, in part, that "gentlemen of proven loyalty to the Holy See who, by reason of their nobility of birth and the renown of their deeds or the degree of their munificence, are deemed worthy to be honored by a public expression of esteem on the part of the Holy See". The end of the brief states that they must progressively maintain, by continued meritorious deed, the reputation and trust they had already inspired, and prove themselves worthy of the honor that had been conferred on them, by unswerving fidelity to God and to the sovereign Pontiff.[ 3]
The awarding of the Order of St. Gregory the Great presents no particular obligations on the recipients toward the Catholic Church – except for the general ones stated above.
Knight's badge in the military division An eight-pointedcross , the insignia of the order, bears a representation ofSt. Gregory on the obverse and on the reverse the mottoPro Deo et Principe ecclesiastical heraldry , laymen awarded the high rank of Grand Cross can display a red and gold ribbon surrounding the shield in their personalcoats of arms , but the recipients of the lower ranks place an appropriate ribbon below the shield.[ 4] laurel , whereas the latter group wears the cross hanging from a trophy of arms.[ 5]
Vestments and accoutrements [ edit ] The Order comprises four classes:
Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCSG)[ 6] Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*SG/DC*SG)Knight/Dame Commander (KCSG/DCSG)Knight/Dame (KSG/DSG)A green uniform was later prescribed byPope Pius IX . The uniform contains a black beaver-felt hat decorated with black silk ribbons, silver metallic twisted rope, buttons and black ostrich feathers. The jacket, made of green wool, is trimmed with silver metallic thread, and has a tail, nine yellow metal buttons in the front and three buttons on the cuffs and is lined with black satin. Finally, the costume contains suspenders, several yellow and red rosettes, whiteleather gloves , and a short sword with a handle made of mother of pearl with a medallion of the order at the end.
Knights Grand Cross wear a sash and a badge or star on the left side of the breast; Commanders wear a cross around the neck; and Knights wear a smaller cross on the left breast of the uniform:
Knight Knight Commander Knight Commander with Star Knight Grand Cross
Juan Mariano de Goyeneche y Gamio, 3rd Count of Guaqui andGrandee of Spain , wearing the Grand Cross and sash of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. [ edit ] Frederick Blakeney , 1964, Australian diplomat, Knight Grand Cross[ 7] Dominique, Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel , 2023, Knight Grand CrossSir George Bowyer, 6th Baronet , Knight Grand Cross[ 8] General SirPeter Cosgrove , 2013, Knight Grand Cross, Governor-General of Australia[ 9] João Carlos Saldanha de Oliveira Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha , Knight Grand Cross of the First Class[ 10] Rodrigo Augusto da Silva , Knight Grand Cross of the First ClassBaronHenry Delvaux de Fenffe , 1921, Governor of Liège[ 11] Duke Carl Ludvig Fouché d'Otrante (1930)[ 12] George Forbes, 7th Earl of Granard , Knight Grand Cross[ 8] Édouard de Castelnau , French general[ 13] Frank Hanna III , American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Knight Grand CrossAlice von Hildebrand , 2013, Dame Grand Cross[ 14] Charles von Hügel , 1852, Knight Grand Cross[ 15] Johno Johnson , 2015, Australian politician[ 16] [ 17] Dina Kawar , previous ambassador of Jordan to France[ 18] [ 19] Riccardo Muti , 2012, Italian conductor, Knight Grand Cross[ 20] Gilbert Levine , 2016, American conductor, Knight Grand Cross[ 21] James Joseph Norris , February 11, 1947, American Catholic humanitarian, co-founder and president of the Papal agency, the International Catholic Migration Commission. European Director of War Relief Services (later Catholic Relief Services). Collaborated with the Holy See for thirty years on refugee resettlement and world poverty. (Also see James Joseph Norris, Knight Commander 1955)Juan Domingo Perón , Caballero de la Gran Cruz (28 de Junio de 1947)[ 22] Count Christopher de Paus (1930)[ 12] CountHippolyte d'Ursel CountLéo d'Ursel , ambassador CountCharles Woeste [ edit ] Bob Hope , 1998, American entertainer (convert to Catholicism)[ 23] Francis Martin O'Donnell , 2007, Ambassador andKnight of Malta , previously in UN service for 32 yearsG. K. Chesterton ,[ 24] Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis ,[ 25] Albert Gubay , 2011, founder ofKwik Save supermarket chain andTotal Fitness [ 26] Knight Commander and Dame Commander [ edit ] Roy E. Disney , 1998[ 23] SirPatrick Duffy , 2017, British politician[ 27] Joseph Ghougassian , 1989,United States Ambassador to Qatar who persuaded the Qatari government to end its prohibition against public worship by Christians and other non-Islamic groups[ 28] [ 29] Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank , 2008,Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom) Hendrik Samuel Houthakker , 2003, Knight Commander with Silver Star, Member ofNixon 'sCouncil of Economic Advisers , husband ofAnna-Teresa Tymieniecka .John Hume , 2012, Northern Irish politician and co-recipient of the 1998Nobel Peace Prize [ 30] Ignazio Jacometti , sculptor, appointed byPope Pius IX .[ 31] Saunders Lewis , 1975,Welsh nationalist politician, founder ofPlaid Genedlaethol Cymru and prominent figure inWelsh-language literature[ 32] John McLoughlin , 1847,Hudson's Bay Company Chief Factor ofFort Vancouver , 1st mayor ofOregon City .Kevin McNamara , British Politician[ 33] Maurice Gerard Moynihan , 1959, Secretary of the Government of theIrish Free State and Governor of theCentral Bank of Ireland Rupert Murdoch , 1998, Australian-American publisher and media entrepreneur[ 23] Oscar Niemeyer , 1990, Brazilian modernist architect[ 34] Nikkyō Niwano , 1992, Japanese Buddhist practitioner who founded the Buddhist organizationRisshō Kōsei Kai .[ 35] [better source needed James Joseph Norris , September 13, 1955, American Catholic humanitarian, Lay Auditor at the Second Vatican Council, delivered major address at the Council on "World Poverty and the Christian Conscience". Charter member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum". Represented the Holy See at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Casto Méndez Núñez , 1849,Spanish Navy officer, futurecontralmirante (counter admiral )[ 36] James O'Donnell , 1999, organist and Master of the Choristers,Westminster Abbey Lilianne Ploumen , 2017, Dutch politician[ 37] Charles Poletti , 1945, Governor of New York, Army officer in charge of post World War II civil affairs in ItalyJohn J. Raskob , American financial executive and businessman (DuPont, General Motors); financed the building of theEmpire State Building Carlo Emanuele Ruspoli, 3rd Duke of Morignano , 2004[ 38] Paul Salamunovich , 1969, American choral conductor and expert onGregorian chant .SirJimmy Savile , 1990, Englishradio DJ andtelevision presenter-broadcaster [ 39] Archbishop of Westminster . This was declined on the basis that the life honor died with the individual.)[ 40] [ 41] Roger Wagner , byPope Paul VI , American choral conductorMordecai Waxman , 1998, Rabbi (Conservative Judaism )Walter Annenberg , who createdTV Guide [ 42] Mariano Armellini , Italian archaeologist[ 43] Thomas Bodkin , lawyer, art historian, art collector and curator[ 44] Joanna Bogle , 2013, British Roman Catholic writer and broadcaster[ 45] Phyllis Bowman , 1996, British journalist andanti-abortion campaigner[ 46] Esteban Campodónico , 1928, Italian-Peruvian medical doctor, university professor, and philanthropist[ 47] Henry Cooper , 1978, champion heavyweight boxer (convert to Catholicism)John J. Coppinger , 1861, US Army major general[ 48] John A. Creighton , 1898, businessman and philanthropist inOmaha [ 49] John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute [ 8] Ralph Downes , 1970, English organist, organist of theLondon Oratory , organ teacher and organ designer (including organ of theRoyal Festival Hall London)[ 50] Jude Patrick Dougherty , 1999, American philosopher, Dean Emeritus of the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America[ 51] Eamon Duffy , 2017, Irish historian and emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge[ 52] Philip Duffy , 1982, Master of Music at theLiverpool Metropolitan Cathedral from 1966 to 1996Joseph Esposito , 2002, Chief of the New York City Police Department[ 53] Brian Gill, Lord Gill , (2011)Lord President of Scotland 2012–2015[ 54] Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia , chairman of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha UK, and Sikh interfaith dialogue leader[ 55] [ 56] Yuri Nikolayevich Maklakov , teacher of Russian language and literatureBambang Soegeng ,Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army Emanuele Luigi Galizia , Maltese architect and civil engineer[ 57] Joe Gladwin , British actor and comedian[ 58] [ 59] Sheilagh Kesting , 2016, former Moderator of the General Assembly of theChurch of Scotland and former Ecumenical Officer of the Church of ScotlandIlyas Khan , British businessman and philanthropist, Chairman of Leonard Cheshire Disability[citation needed George Malcolm , English choral conductor, harpsichordist and organist; former Master of the Music,Westminster Cathedral Colin Mawby , 2006, English choral conductor and composer[ 60] Westminster Cathedral John A. McCone , 1955, US Industrialist, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and former head of the Atomic Energy CommissionGeorge Menachery , 2008, Editor of the St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India and Director of theSARAS ,[ 61] Jean Migneault , former Deputy Supreme Knight of theKnights of Columbus Patrick Millen , 1991, New Zealand public servant[ 62] Ricardo Montalbán ,[ 63] Paul Victor Obeng , 2009,[ 64] Isabel Piczek , 1998, artist[ 65] Joseph Ryelandt , Belgian composer[ 66] Jovan Sundečić , 1886,Serbian Orthodox priest andMontenegrin official[ 67] Ann Widdecombe , 2013, British politician[ 68] Michael Williams , 2001, English actor[citation needed Sebastian Kyalwazi , 1968, Ugandan surgeon, researcher and academic.[ 69] Alfred Grünberger , 1924,Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs .[ 70] J. L. P. Roche Victoria (Former State Minister fromTamil Nadu ).James Carine ,Royal Navy officer.^ Begni, Ernesto; Grey, James C.; Kennedy, Thomas J. (1914).The Vatican: Its History, Its Treasures 515 . Retrieved31 August 2016 . ^ Dart, John (3 January 1998)."Pope Bestows Knighthood on 64 Prominent L.A. Catholics" .LA Times . Retrieved25 April 2018 . ^ "The Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great" .Papalknights.org.uk . Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain of Pius IX, Saint Gregory and Saint Sylvester. Archived fromthe original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved2 October 2010 .^ Noonan, James-Charles Jr. (1996).The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church 196 .ISBN 0-670-86745-4 ^ MacErlean, Andrew Alphonsus (1912).The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, Volume 4 667– 668. ^ "Order of St. Gregory the Great" .Association of Papal Orders in Ireland . Retrieved19 July 2024 .^ "Blakeney, Frederick Joseph (1913–1990)" .Frederick Joseph Blakeney . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved28 April 2021 .^a b c Gorman, W. Gordon (1885).Converts to Rome : A list of about four thousand Protestants who have recently become Roman Catholics 1 –3. ^ "Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians" .Catholic Communications . Archdiocese of Sydney. 7 February 2013. Archived fromthe original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved2 February 2014 .^ Diccionario bibliographico portuguez, 1859, p. 342 ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis [1] ^a b Acta Apostolicae Sedis ^ "Edouard de Castelnau" . Ministère des Armées. Archived fromthe original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved16 May 2017 .^ "Alice von Hildebrand" . Retrieved19 February 2014 .^ Charles von Hügel by Anatole von Hügel ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis [2] ^ " .Special Broadcasting Service . Retrieved10 August 2017 .^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis [3] ^ "Kawar appointed envoy at UN | Jordan Times" . 4 June 2014.^ Lawrence A. Johnson (11 May 2012)."Muti receives highest papal honor at the Vatican" .Chicago Classical Review . Retrieved28 October 2024 . ^ Richard Szczepanowski (17 January 2014)." .National Catholic Reporter . Retrieved28 October 2024 . ^ "El día que Eva Perón estuvo en el Vaticano" . 27 June 2021.^a b c John Dart (3 January 1998)."Pope Honors Rupert Murdoch, Roy Disney, Bob Hope" .LA Times . Retrieved18 June 2014 . ^ "Pope Honors 2 Writers; Makes G.K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc Knight Commanders" .The New York Times . 25 May 1934.^ Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis erhält päpstlichen St.-Gregorius-Orden Archived 28 September 2011 at theWayback Machine , Bistum Regensburg.^ Albert Gubay 'overwhelmed' with Papal award – website BBC News, 23 February 2011^ "Former Sheffield MP honoured today with papal knighthood" .The Star . February 2017. Retrieved11 March 2021 .^ "Joseph Ghougassian to Receive Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award" .USD News Center . University of San Diego. 6 March 2012. Retrieved28 June 2025 .^ Johnson, Brent (15 August 1997). "College adds spirituality to teaching of psychology". The North County Times. ^ "John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict" . BBC News. Retrieved7 June 2012 .^ Jacometti, Ignazio Entry by Simona Sclocchi in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 62 (2004) ^ Gwyn A., Williams (1992)."Writing on the Line – Professor Gwyn A Williams on Saunders Lewis" .Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 – viaYouTube . ^ "Lists of Members" .Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain . 3 August 2021. Retrieved29 September 2023 .^ "Fundação Oscar Niemeyer" . Retrieved19 July 2017 .^ "Leadership" .Risshō Kōsei Kai . Retrieved6 January 2021 .^ "Mendez Nunez, Casto Biografia" .todoavante.es (in Spanish). 26 December 2023. Retrieved9 February 2025 .^ Pentin, Edward (15 January 2018)."Vatican: Papal Honor for Pro-Abortion Politician Not a Sign of Support" .National Catholic Register . Retrieved15 January 2018 . ^ "Hemeroteca ABC" . Hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved18 June 2014 .^ Tubb, Gerard (9 November 2011)."Fans Flock To Cathedral Service For Sir Jimmy" . Sky News. Retrieved10 November 2011 . ^ "Savile was serial sex abuser of teenage girls, say police" .The Times . Retrieved10 October 2012 .(subscription required) ^ "Savile's papal knighthood died with him – Vatican" .RTÉ . 27 October 2012. Retrieved28 March 2020 .^ "accessed 14 September 2007" . Nndb.com. Retrieved18 June 2014 .^ Broderick, Bona F. (1897)."Mariano Armellini: De Rossi's Successor" .Catholic World .64 :84– 96. Retrieved6 February 2024 . ^ Unlabelled press clipping of contemporary obituary, in Royal Birmingham Society of Artists archives ^ Fortis, Mulier (29 May 2013)."Mulier Fortis: Dame Joanna's Investiture..." Mulier Fortis . Retrieved27 January 2022 . ^ "Remembering pro-life heroes" .Catholic Herald . 22 April 2016. Retrieved27 January 2022 .^ White, J.W., M.D. (March 1939)."Esteban Campodonico, M.D. 1867[sic]-1938" Arch. Ophthalmol .21 (3). JAMA Ophthalmology: 529.doi :10.1001/archopht.1939.00860030137019 . {{cite journal }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Hennessy, Michael E. (April 1896)."The New Brigadier-General" .Donahoe's Magazine . Boston: Donahoe's Magazine Company. pp. 384– 387 – viaGoogle Books . ^ "Count John A. Creighton Dead: Nebraskan Who Founded Colleges Was Ennobled by the Pope" ,New York Times . 8 February 1907.^ Marc Naylor.The Independent , London, 1 January 1994. ^ "Jude Patrick Dougherty obituary" (PDF) (Press release). Catholic University of America. 6 March 2021. Retrieved28 October 2024 .^ Keith Morris (11 May 2017)."Professors Nicholas Lash and Eamon Duffy receive Papal Knighthoods" .Independent Catholic News . Retrieved28 October 2024 . ^ Paula Katinas (9 January 2024)."Joseph Esposito, Former NYPD Chief of Department and Valued Diocese of Brooklyn Member, Passes Away at 73" .The Tablet . Retrieved28 October 2024 . ^ Daniel Harkins (7 May 2015)."First Catholic to become Scotland's most senior judge to retire" .Scottish Catholic Observer . Retrieved27 September 2024 . ^ Live, Birmingham (14 June 2012)."Your News: Sikh Papal Knighthood in Birmingham" .Birmingham Live . Retrieved7 October 2025 . ^ Baker, Nigel."Sikhs honoured by Catholics" . Retrieved7 October 2025 . ^ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009).Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 2 G–Z .Pietà : Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 891.ISBN 978-9993291329 ^ "Catholic Herald – Archives" .^ British Theatrelog volume 1 issue 8, TQ Publications, 1978, p. 14 ^ "Papal Honour for Mawby" . The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland. 20 April 2006. Retrieved21 January 2012 .^ "Welcome to Indian Christianity" .^ Pembroke College Record {{cite book }}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link )^ Gallantry magazine online Archived 24 August 2004 at theWayback Machine accessed 31 January 2008^ "Pope Honours 29" .Modern Ghana . Retrieved15 February 2021 .^ "British Society for the Turin Shroud – Issue #47" .shroud.com . Retrieved27 October 2015 .^ Ryelandt, Joseph (grandson of the knight of the same name),Histoire de la famille Ryelandt et des familles alliées (Brussels, 2003; a private publication; a copy has been deposited in the National Library), p. 120. ^ Karaula 2009 , p. 148.^ "Ann Widdecombe awarded papal honour" . Indcatholicnews.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved18 June 2014 .^ Charles Olweny (17 April 2017)."Dr. Kyalwazi Memorial Lecture: About Prof. Sebastian Kakule Kyalwazi" .Association of Surgeons of Uganda . Kampala. Retrieved10 July 2023 .^ AAS 17 (1925), n. 1, S. 36.General and cited references [ edit ] Karaula, Željko (2009). "Pisma crnogorskog pjesnika, svećenika i diplomata Jovana Sunečića bosansko-đakovačkom i srijemskom biskupu Josipu Jurju Strossmayeru (1881–1887)".Diacovensia (in Croatian) (12). Đakovo: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu.ISSN 1849-014X .
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