Holy See Orders

HOLY SEE or VATICAN ORDERS - DECORATIONS - MEDALS

Order of Christ (Militia Domini Nostri Iesu Christi or Ordine Supremo del Cristo). A branch of the Order of the Knights Templar. Established by King Dionysius of Portugal in 1317. Confirmed in 1319 by Pope John XXII. Reorganized by Pope Pius X 7.2.1905. 1 class: Knight.

Order of the Golden Spur (Ordo Militia Aurata or Ordine dello Speron d'Oro o Milizia Aurata). Cannot be dated for certain but is referred to as being conferred under Pope Paul III in 1539. 1 class: Knight.

Order of Saint Gregory the Great (Ordo Sanctus Gregorius Magnus or Ordine di San Gregorio Magno). Established by Pope Gregory XVI 1.9.1831. The Order has a Military and a Civil Division, each with 3 classes, the 2nd class being divided into two degrees: Grand Cross, Commander with Star/Commander, Knight.

Order of Saint Sylvester (Ordo Sanctus Silvestri Papae or Ordine di San Silvestro Papa). Established by Pope Gregory XVI 31.10.1841. The Order has 3 classes, the 2nd class being divided into two degrees: Grand Cross, Commander with Star/Commander, Knight.

Order of Pius (Ordo Pianus or Ordine Piano). Established by Pope Pius IX 17.6.1847. 4 classes, the 3rd class being divided into 2 degrees: Grand Collar, Grand Cross, Commander with Star/Commander, Knight.

Papal Lateran Cross (Crux Lateranum or Croce Lateranese). Established by Pope Leo XIII 18.2.1903. The order has 3 degrees: gold, silver, bronze.

Cross of Honour "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" (Cruz or Croce "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice"). Established by Pope Leo XIII 17.7.1888.

Cross of Merit of the Soverign Military Order of Malta (Croce al Merito del Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta). Originally established in 1916 by the Grand Prior of the Grand Priorate of Austria and Bohemia, but was expanded by the Grand Master in Rome to include the whole Order of Malta. The decoration has a Civil and a Military Division, each division having 6 classes: Collar of Merit, Grand Cross of Merit with Star and Sash, Grand Cross of Merit with Star, Cross of Merit 1st Class with Crown, Cross of Merit 2nd Class. See also International Orders.