Order of St. Gregory the Great

Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great
  • Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni (Latin)
  • Ordine di San Gregorio Magno (Italian)
Knight Commander's cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Awarded by the Holy See
TypePapal order of knighthood
Established1 September 1831; 195 years ago (1831-09-01)
Religious affiliationCatholic
Motto
StatusCurrently constituted
First headPope Gregory XVI
SovereignPope Leo XIV
Classes
  • Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCSG)
  • Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*SG/DC*SG)
  • Knight/Dame Commander (KCSG/DCSG)
  • Knight/Dame (KSG/DSG)
Former gradesKnight/Dame Grand Cross of the Second Class
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of Pope Pius IX
Next (lower)Order of St. Sylvester

Ribbon bar of the order

The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (Latin: Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; Italian: Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope.

The order is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See. The honor is bestowed upon Catholic men and women (and certain notable non-Catholics) in recognition of their personal service to the 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.

The Order of Saint Gregory the Great is the most recognizable of the papal awards and the most frequently granted to lay persons based on their merits.

Based on the Acta Apostolica Sedis, 4177 persons have received (globally) a pontifical knighthood between 2000 and 2020 (the UK had 181 recipients and France 170). From the awardees of papal knighthood, the recipients of the Order of Saint Gregory are the most numerous.

History and appointment

The criteria for the conferment of the Order of Saint Gregory

The constitutional pontifical norms of the Order of Saint Gregory are the following : Quod summis quibusque (1 September 1831), Cum amplissima honorum (20 March 1834), and Multum ad excitandos (7 February 1905).

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.

The instruction on the conferral of Papal Honours issued by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, provides a description of the general principles common to all the papal orders:

- they are only addressed to lay people, including men and women, Catholic or not, and excluding the Clergy (they have their own honours’ system).

- The awards are provided as a “mark of appreciation and recognition of services given” by the recipients to the Church.

- They are granted on an “incremental basis” with defined requirements on the age of the candidates.

- The application needs to be duly documented to establish the merits of the candidate.

- Finally, the number of awardees are limited per diocese on a yearly basis.

The instruction provides detailed information on the minimum age to received such an award (40 years old for a knight, 45 years old for a commander, ...). The instruction also provide details on specific categories of persons belonging to the laity: police, military (the order being granted as from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel), diplomats accredited to the Holy See (as from the rank of Attaché or secretary), and staff working with the Roman curia (as from the rank of Addetti di Segreteria).

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.

How to receive a pontifical award

Admission is never achieved through personal application. The conferral can be made directly by the Pope, at his own initiative and following his own choice. This would be the exception. In principle, the granting of an order is always the result of a “presentation”. Indeed, the candidate is presented or sponsored by a responsible authority.

The presentation will be made by the bishop in whose diocese the candidate is resident. The instruction indicates that it can also be the Vicar General who can make a proposal provided he has an authorisation from his bishop to do so.

In several dioceses, specific committees have been created to provide advice to the Bishop on any awards. This would be the case in Australian dioceses with the “Parramatta Diocesan Honours Committee” or the “Archdiocesan Ecclesiastical and Civic Honours Committee of the Archdiocese of Sydney”.

In relation to any application, the instruction state that the Bishop will need to provide the curriculum vitæ of the candidate including factual information (age, profession, family and social condition) and description of the candidate’s “worthiness in the eyes of the Church”. Once completed and approved by the bishop, the application file is sent to the competent Nuncio who will issue his Nihil Obstat and will in turn send the whole file to the Secretariat.

It is the Cardinal Secretary of State who is responsible of accepting or not the application. In this respect, the Cardinal Secretary of State has the right to make the appointments and will sign the papal brief non mandato.

The new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium states that it is the Section for General Affairs (first section) of the Secretariat of State which is in charge “to prepare documentation for the granting of papal honours”.

Evidence

Contrary to any other decoration awarded by a country to a foreign subject, the Pope does not obtain prior permission of the foreign office of the country of the recipient upon whom he wishes to confer such an honour.

They is no permanent list of persons who have received papal honours. A former spokesman of the Holy See stated that “the names of people who receive the knighthood don't appear in the Holy See's yearbook and that the honour dies with the individual”. The only evidence of a conferral is the insertion of the name of the recipient in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS). The bestowal of a papal knighthood will take effect once it has been gazetted in the AAS.

Legal aspects

Pontifical orders are not conferred by the Holy See in which sovereignty rests under international law, nor by the Vatican City State which is the geographical location where the Holy See resides. Pontifical orders are personal and absolute gifts of the Pope. They are awarded as an order of merit in accordance with the status of the relevant order. It is understood that the Pope is the source of honour (fons honorum) which means that he is the ultimate authority from which all papal honours come.

The Pope can do whatever he wants as the sovereign of all pontifical orders, awards and honours. A pope can abolish any or all of the orders of knighthood if he wishes. He is not bound by tradition nor precedent. In practice, this means that the reigning Pope can change a tradition which is not incorporated in the existing statues of the order. This is however only possible if the Popes makes appropriate changes to the statutes of the relevant orders.

No new orders have been created since 1905. Popes reformed the current orders during the twentieth century notably by removing the nobility clause from the Order of Pius IX, added new ranks in the three orders, and including women as recipients of all the Pontifical orders. On this last point, it was proposed to create, at the time of the Vatican II Council, an order of merit for women. The idea was not discussed further and the access to the three orders of pontifical knighthood was progressively implemented under the pontificate of John-Paul II.

Duties

It is understood that when a person is awarded a pontifical knighthood, this creates a special bound between the recipient and the Holy See.

For a practicing Catholic, the granting of such an honour creates a reinforced call to serve the Church. Cardinal Jacques Martin recalls that “A Papal Knighthood is not viewed solely as an honour, as a reward: it also incorporates a duty and a mission, that of serving and protecting the person of the Vicar of Christ. […] It is not the honour that matters, but one’s obligations and service”.

For a non-Catholic recipient, it is assumed that he would act prudently and will not make hostile statement on the Pope or the Church.

For honours granted on a “pro-forma” basis, notably in the context of official visits by heads of state or government at the Vatican, it is understood that the recipients would act respectfully towards the Holy See.

Finally, in very few cases, it emerges that a recipient has had an immoral conduct prior, during, of after having received a papal honour. Lord Acton on the one hand stated that “Papal knighthood are not awarded as a sign of holiness or a reward for sanctity – but a recognition of active generosity to the Church and her works”. On the other hand, a Catholic journalist stated that such papal knighthoods “should be reserved for those who’ve worked hard in the cause of the Church”. A member of the UK Parliament (dealing with the relations with the Holy See) further stressed that “a knight is a tremendous privilege that should be reserved for the most deserving” and that “it should not be in the possession of the those who fall short of the behaviour expected by the Church”.

Rights

While the honour is completely honourific, papal knights enjoy special rights in accordance with the constitutive documents of the orders of knighthood, relevant Church customs and ceremonial practice.

The first material sign is the reception by the papal knight of a pontifical brief appointing the recipient in a defined order at a specific rank. He will also receive a medal, its miniature and the rosetta (which is not provided by the Secretariat but by the Bishop or the applicant).

Wearing the medal would be limited to very specific occasion (Church ceremonies in specific countries). This would be also the case for the miniature (at official events). Wearing the rosetta on the lapel of a jacket is more common. A French recipient states in this respect that she wears the rosetta “in a spirit of recognition towards the Church” and to recall that “she is part of the Church and is willing to continue to serve”.

The traditional nineteenth century uniforms still exist with specific designs for each orders. They are worn in some countries (such as the UK, Ireland, Nigeria) but not in other countries (notably France and Germany).

A papal knight or dame is not necessarily allowed to wear any specific title in front of his or her name. This would depend on the customs of the country of the recipient; Nigeria would allow it, while the UK would not. A Scottish recipient states in this respect: “you are not allowed to call yourself sir […] which would feel a bit ridiculous. However, they are letter added to the end of your name”. Indeed, in the Anglo-Saxon tradition, the recipients would be entitled to add the letters of the decoration at the end of his or her name: for instance, a knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great would add KSG (and DSG for a dame).

According to the Roman Catholic tradition, recipients of a papal order would be asked to attend the major events of their diocese. Recipients will be saluted by the Swiss guards any time they visit the Vatican (they would then need to wear their medal). Papal knights would even be allowed to enter any churches on horseback (or even Saint Peter's Basilica).

Insignia

Knight's badge in the military division

An eight-pointed cross, the insignia of the order, bears a representation of St. Gregory on the obverse and on the reverse the motto Pro Deo et Principe ("For God and Ruler"). The cross is suspended from a red and gold ribbon. In ecclesiastical heraldry, laymen awarded the high rank of Grand Cross can display a red and gold ribbon surrounding the shield in their personal coats of arms, but the recipients of the lower ranks place an appropriate ribbon below the shield. The difference between the civilian and military insignia is that the former group wears the cross hanging from a green crown of laurel, whereas the latter group wears the cross hanging from a trophy of arms.

Vestments and accoutrements

The Order comprises four classes:

A green uniform was later prescribed by Pope 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, white leather 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

Notable members

Juan Mariano de Goyeneche y Gamio, 3rd Count of Guaqui and Grandee of Spain, wearing the Grand Cross and sash of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Knight/Dame Grand Cross

Knight/Dame Commander with Star

Knight Commander and Dame Commander

Knight/Dame

References

  1. ↑ Begni, Ernesto; Grey, James C.; Kennedy, Thomas J. (1914). The Vatican: Its History, Its Treasures. Letters and Arts Publishing Company. p. 515. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Dart, John (3 January 1998). "Pope Bestows Knighthood on 64 Prominent L.A. Catholics". LA Times. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. ↑ James-Charles Noonan, Jr., The Church Visible, p. 111.
  4. ↑ The first recipients of 2000 are indicated in the AAS 92 [2000], p. 651 (awarded on 27 January 2020), and the last recipients of 2019 are mentionned in the AAS 113 (1) [2021], p. 125 (awarded on 16 December 2019)
  5. ↑ "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 from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Istruzioni sul conferimento di onorificenze pontificie ecclesiastiche e laiche, document number 16.846/ON, dated 13 May 2001, and the subsequent clarification" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "Parramatta Diocesan Honours Committee".
  8. ↑ "Information regarding Honours and Awards" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Article 48(3) of the Apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium on the roman curia and its service to the church in the world,".
  10. ↑ ""Savile's papal knighthood can't be revoked, says Vatican"".
  11. ↑ "Acta Apostolicae Sedis".
  12. ↑ Peter Bander van Buren, Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, pp. 61-62; 126; 145
  13. ↑ Peter Bander van Buren, Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, p. 60.
  14. ↑ Peter Bander van Buren, Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, p. 59
  15. ↑ Peter Bander van Buren, Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, pp. 615 ; 134
  16. ↑ "Vatican says Dutch politician's honor was simply diplomatic protocol - TheCatholicSpirit.com  : TheCatholicSpirit.com". Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  17. ↑ "Rupert Murdoch's papal knighthood questioned as investigation continues". www.ewtnnews.com. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  18. ↑ Peter Bander van Buren, Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, p. 143
  19. ↑ "Michèle Cardoso, Dame commandeur de l'Ordre de Saint-Grégoire le Grand - Diocèse de Strasbourg". www.alsace.catholique.fr. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  20. ↑ "Bankie given Papal knighthood to honour decades of work in Catholic Church | Clydebank Post". www.clydebankpost.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  21. ↑ Bertrand Galimard Flavigny, « A cheval dans les églises », Petites affiches n°24, Lextenso, 3.02.2020, p. 23
  22. ↑ “Whoa: the obscure rule that allows some people to ride horses in St. Peter’s”, Aleteia, 1.07.2016
  23. ↑ Noonan, James-Charles Jr. (1996). The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church. Viking. p. 196. ISBN 0-670-86745-4.
  24. ↑ 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. Robert Appleton Co. pp. 667–668.
  25. ↑ "Order of St. Gregory the Great". Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  26. ↑ "Blakeney, Frederick Joseph (1913–1990)". Frederick Joseph Blakeney. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  27. 1 2 3 Gorman, W. Gordon (1885). Converts to Rome : A list of about four thousand Protestants who have recently become Roman Catholics. London: W. Swan Sonnenschein and Co. pp. 1–3.
  28. ↑ "Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians". Catholic Communications. Archdiocese of Sydney. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  29. ↑ Diccionario bibliographico portuguez, 1859, p. 342
  30. ↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 13 (1921)
  31. 1 2 Acta Apostolicae Sedis 22 (1930)
  32. ↑ "Edouard de Castelnau". Ministère des Armées. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  33. ↑ "Alice von Hildebrand". Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  34. ↑ Charles von Hügel by Anatole von Hügel
  35. ↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 108 (2016)
  36. ↑ "'Heart, soul' of NSW Labor dead at 87". Special Broadcasting Service. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  37. ↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 97 (2005)
  38. ↑ "Kawar appointed envoy at UN | Jordan Times". 4 June 2014.
  39. ↑ Richard Szczepanowski (17 January 2014). "'Pope's maestro' to conduct Washington concert to mark canonizations". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  40. ↑ Lawrence A. Johnson (11 May 2012). "Muti receives highest papal honor at the Vatican". Chicago Classical Review. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  41. ↑ "El día que Eva Perón estuvo en el Vaticano". 27 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "Pope Honors 2 Writers; Makes G.K. Chesterton and Hillaire [sic] Belloc Knight Commanders". The New York Times. 25 May 1934.
  43. ↑ Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis erhält päpstlichen St.-Gregorius-Orden Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Bistum Regensburg.
  44. ↑ Albert Gubay 'overwhelmed' with Papal award – website BBC News, 23 February 2011
  45. 1 2 3 John Dart (3 January 1998). "Pope Honors Rupert Murdoch, Roy Disney, Bob Hope". LA Times. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  46. ↑ "Former Sheffield MP honoured today with papal knighthood". The Star. February 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  47. ↑ "Joseph Ghougassian to Receive Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award". USD News Center. University of San Diego. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  48. ↑ Johnson, Brent (15 August 1997). "College adds spirituality to teaching of psychology". The North County Times.
  49. ↑ "John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  50. ↑ Jacometti, Ignazio Entry by Simona Sclocchi in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 62 (2004)
  51. ↑ Gwyn A., Williams (1992). "Writ‌ing on the Line – Professor Gwyn A Williams on Saunders Lewis". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  52. ↑ "Lists of Members". Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  53. ↑ "Fundação Oscar Niemeyer". Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  54. ↑ "Leadership". Risshō Kōsei Kai. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  55. ↑ "Mendez Nunez, Casto Biografia". todoavante.es (in Spanish). 26 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  56. ↑ Pentin, Edward (15 January 2018). "Vatican: Papal Honor for Pro-Abortion Politician Not a Sign of Support". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  57. ↑ "Hemeroteca ABC". Hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  58. ↑ Tubb, Gerard (9 November 2011). "Fans Flock To Cathedral Service For Sir Jimmy". Sky News. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  59. ↑ "Savile was serial sex abuser of teenage girls, say police". The Times. London, UK. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012. (subscription required)
  60. ↑ "Savile's papal knighthood died with him – Vatican". RTÉ. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  61. ↑ "accessed 14 September 2007". Nndb.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  62. ↑ Broderick, Bona F. (1897). "Mariano Armellini: De Rossi's Successor". Catholic World. 64: 84–96. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  63. ↑ Unlabelled press clipping of contemporary obituary, in Royal Birmingham Society of Artists archives
  64. ↑ Fortis, Mulier (29 May 2013). "Mulier Fortis: Dame Joanna's Investiture..." Mulier Fortis. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  65. ↑ "Remembering pro-life heroes". Catholic Herald. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  66. ↑ 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)
  67. ↑ Hennessy, Michael E. (April 1896). "The New Brigadier-General". Donahoe's Magazine. Boston: Donahoe's Magazine Company. pp. 384–387 – via Google Books.
  68. ↑ "Count John A. Creighton Dead: Nebraskan Who Founded Colleges Was Ennobled by the Pope", New York Times. 8 February 1907.
  69. ↑ Marc Naylor. The Independent, London, 1 January 1994.
  70. ↑ "Jude Patrick Dougherty obituary" (PDF) (Press release). Catholic University of America. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  71. ↑ Keith Morris (11 May 2017). "Professors Nicholas Lash and Eamon Duffy receive Papal Knighthoods". Independent Catholic News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  72. ↑ "The Catholic Union (Weekly Briefing)". us8.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  73. ↑ Paula Katinas (9 January 2024). "Joseph Esposito, Former NYPD Chief of Department and Valued Diocese of Brooklyn Member, Passes Away at 73". The Tablet. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  74. ↑ Daniel Harkins (7 May 2015). "First Catholic to become Scotland's most senior judge to retire". Scottish Catholic Observer. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  75. ↑ AAS 17 (1925), n. 1, S. 36.
  76. ↑ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 2 G–Z. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 891. ISBN 978-9993291329.
  77. ↑ "Catholic Herald – Archives".
  78. ↑ British Theatrelog volume 1 issue 8, TQ Publications, 1978, p. 14
  79. ↑ Charles Olweny (17 April 2017). "Dr. Kyalwazi Memorial Lecture: About Prof. Sebastian Kakule Kyalwazi". Association of Surgeons of Uganda. Kampala. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  80. ↑ "Papal Honour for Mawby". The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  81. ↑ "Welcome to Indian Christianity".
  82. ↑ Pembroke College Record. Oxford. 1995. p. 92. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  83. ↑ Gallantry magazine online Archived 24 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine accessed 31 January 2008
  84. ↑ "Pope Honours 29". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  85. ↑ "British Society for the Turin Shroud – Issue #47". shroud.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  86. ↑ "George Prindible Gets High Honor". Altoona Mirror. 17 July 1929. p. 5.
  87. ↑ "Patrick Russill KSG – Director of Music - Director of Music". www.bromptonoratory.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  88. ↑ 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.
  89. ↑ Live, Birmingham (14 June 2012). "Your News: Sikh Papal Knighthood in Birmingham". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  90. ↑ Baker, Nigel. "Sikhs honoured by Catholics". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  91. ↑ Karaula 2009, p. 148.
  92. ↑ "Ann Widdecombe awarded papal honour". Indcatholicnews.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

General and cited references

BOOKS

ARTICLES