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{{Short description|Papal Order of Knighthood of the Holy See}} |
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{{Infobox order |
{{Infobox order |
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| name = Order of Pope Pius IX |
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| native_name = {{smaller|{{nobold|{{native name|it|Ordine di Pio IX}}}}}} |
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| native_name_lang = it |
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| alt = |
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|established = 1847 |
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|motto = ''VIRTUTI ET MERITO''<br />(Virtue and Merit)<ref name=cathenc/> |
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| type = [[Papal order of knighthood]] |
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| established = {{Start date and age|1847|6|17|df=yes}}<ref name=cathenc/> |
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| country = |
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| religion = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] |
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| seat = |
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| ribbon = |
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| motto = {{plainlist| |
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* {{native name|la|Virtuti et Merito}}<ref name=cathenc/> |
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* {{native name|en|Virtue and Merit}} |
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|former_grades = |
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}} |
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|grades = Knight with the Collar<br />Knight/Dame Grand Cross <br />Knight/Dame Grand Officer<br />Knight/Dame Commander<br />Knight/Dame |
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|date = 17 June 1847<ref name=cathenc/> |
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| status = Currently constituted |
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| first_head = [[Pope Pius IV]] |
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| head_title = Sovereign |
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| head = {{Incumbent pope 2}} |
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|individual = |
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| classes = {{plainlist| |
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* Knight/Dame with the Collar (GCCPO) |
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* Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCPO) |
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* Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*PO/DC*PO) |
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* Knight/Dame (KPO/DPO) |
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}} |
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| website = |
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| total = |
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| higher = [[Order of the Golden Spur]] |
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| related = |
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| alt2 = |
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}} |
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The '''Order of Pope Pius IX''' ({{ |
The '''Order of Pope Pius IX''' ({{langx|it|Ordine di Pio IX}}), also referred as the '''Pian Order''' ({{langx|it|Ordine Piano}}, {{IPA|it|piˈaːno|pron}}), is a [[papal order of knighthood]] originally founded by [[Pope Pius IV]] in 1560. Currently, it is the highest honor conferred by the Holy See (being the [[Supreme Order of Christ|Order of Christ]] and the [[Order of the Golden Spur]] currently dormant). The awarding of the order fell into disuse and was re-instituted by [[Pope Pius IX]] as a continuation on 17 June 1847.<ref name=cathenc>{{CathEncy |wstitle= Pontifical Decorations |first=P.M.J. |last=Rock}}</ref> |
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The highest rank awarded by the Pope is the ''Collar of the Order'', usually to Catholic heads of state on the occasion of official visits to the Holy See. The ''Grand Cross'' is the highest Papal award given to lay men and women, ordinarily given to resident Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years in post and rarely to exceptional Catholics in the wider world for particular services, mainly in the international field and for outstanding deeds for Church and society. |
The highest rank awarded by the Pope is the ''Collar of the Order'', usually to Catholic heads of state on the occasion of official visits to the [[Holy See]]. The ''[[Grand Cross]]'' is the highest Papal award given to lay men and women, ordinarily given to resident Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years in post and rarely to exceptional Catholics in the wider world for particular services, mainly in the international field and for outstanding deeds for Church and society. |
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The rank of Knight is almost never awarded, and when it happens, it is given in recognition of high-profile services rendered to the Holy See or directly to the person of the Pontiff, by Catholic faithful of distinguished status, almost always belonging to ancient European noble families. |
The rank of Knight is almost never awarded, and when it happens, it is given in recognition of high-profile services rendered to the Holy See or directly to the person of the [[Pontiff]], by Catholic faithful of distinguished status, almost always belonging to ancient European noble families. |
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The other two ranks (Commander and Commander with Star) are granted sparingly to lay Catholics, |
The other two ranks (Commander and Commander with Star) are granted sparingly to lay Catholics, usually in diplomatic roles, for extraordinary merit or deeds for the Church and society. The order is awarded to Catholics and, on occasion and only for diplomatic reasons, to non-Catholics and non-Christians as well. |
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==History of the Order== |
==History of the Order== |
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The Order was founded on 17 June 1847, by Pope [[Pope Pius IX|Pius IX]] with the decree ''Romanis Pontificibus,'' placing it as the continuation of the ancient order established by Pope Pius IV with the bull ''Pii patris amplissimi'' on March 1559.<ref name=":0" /> These noble knights formed the lay court of the Roman Pontiff, being defined participants, since they "participated" in the life of the Pontiff, offering him an escort and often residing in the [[Apostolic Palace]]; they often shared the table with the Pontiff and accompanied him during his daily tasks. |
The Order was founded on 17 June 1847, by Pope [[Pope Pius IX|Pius IX]] with the decree ''[[Romanis Pontificibus]],'' placing it as the continuation of the ancient order established by [[Pope Pius IV]] with the bull ''Pii patris amplissimi'' on March 1559.<ref name=":0" /> These noble knights formed the lay court of the Roman Pontiff, being defined participants, since they "participated" in the life of the Pontiff, offering him an escort and often residing in the [[Apostolic Palace]]; they often shared the table with the Pontiff and accompanied him during his daily tasks. |
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The subsequent decree ''Cum Hominum Mentes'' of 17 June 1849, confirmed the ancient privilege of personal nobility through membership in the Pian Order, thus creating it the only ennobler of the Holy Apostolic See. With another decree dated 11 November 1856, the Roman Pontiff himself divided the Order into three classes: Knight Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. |
The subsequent decree ''Cum Hominum Mentes'' of 17 June 1849, confirmed the ancient privilege of personal nobility through membership in the Pian Order, thus creating it the only ennobler of the Holy Apostolic See. With another decree dated 11 November 1856, the Roman Pontiff himself divided the Order into three classes: Knight Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. |
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Pope Pius X reformed the Pontifical orders with the decree ''Multum ad excitandos'' of 7 February 1905,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Acta Sanctae Sedis: ephemerides romanae a SS.mo D. N. Pio PP. X|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-37-1904-5-ocr.pdf|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Vatican.va|page=565}}</ref> the new class of Commander with star (correspondent to the class of Grand Officer) was created. |
Pope Pius X reformed the Pontifical orders with the decree ''Multum ad excitandos'' of 7 February 1905,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Acta Sanctae Sedis: ephemerides romanae a SS.mo D. N. Pio PP. X|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-37-1904-5-ocr.pdf|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Vatican.va|page=565}}</ref> the new class of Commander with star (correspondent to the class of Grand Officer) was created. |
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The |
The Pian Order was then reformed again by Pope Pius XII, with a Bull dated 11 November 1939, which suppressed the privilege of nobility.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato Vaticana|title=Annuario Pontificio|publisher=LEV - Libreria Editrice Vaticana|year=1968|isbn=|location=Città del Vaticano|pages=1103|language=Italian}}</ref> From the historical point of view, the Knighthood of the Grand Cross of the Pian Order has held the role that was of the Militia Aurata before the reform of [[Pope Gregory XVI|Gregory XVI]], namely that of title of rank and ennobling of the Holy See from the sixteenth century to 1841. |
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==Order of Classes== |
==Order of Classes== |
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[[File:De_Piusorde_1893.jpg|left|thumb|100px|1893 artistic sketch of the medal]] |
[[File:De_Piusorde_1893.jpg|left|thumb|100px|1893 artistic sketch of the medal]] |
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The Order comprises five classes:<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Papal Order of Pius IX |url=https://www.papalknights.org/pian.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=The Christian Knighthood Information Center}}</ref> |
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The Order comprises five classes: |
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⚫ | *'' Knight with the Collar'' (GCCPO): who wear a gold chain around their shoulders which is decorated with the papal [[tiara]] and two doves, and on the breast a large star. It is the highest active [[Papal Orders of Knighthood|papal decoration]], and is reserved for [[head of state|heads of state]]. |
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⚫ | *''Knight/Dame Grand Cross'' (GCPO):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of Pius IX (Pian Order) |url=https://www.papalorders.ie/index.php/pontifical-booklet/different-orders/14-order-of-pius-ix-pian-order |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Association of Papal Orders in Ireland}}</ref> who wear a wide dark blue silk [[ribbon]] (sash) bordered with red which extends [[saltire]]-wise from the left shoulder to the right side where the insignia of the order is suspended by a [[Rosette (decoration)|rosette]], and on the breast a large diamond-studded star. It is commonly awarded to the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. |
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⚫ | *''Knight/Dame Commander with Star'' (KC*PO/DC*PO): who in addition to the badge wear a star of smaller design than that of Knights of the Grand Cross<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Henneresse|first=Dominique|title=Ordres et Décorations du Saint-Siège|publisher=LEV Libreria Editrice Vaticana (Vatican Publishing House)|year=2019|isbn=978-88-266-0241-7|location=Città del Vaticano|pages=89–90; 104–105|language=French}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Michele D'Andrea|first=Fabio Cassani Pironti|title=Vestire gli onori|publisher=In.edit|year=2005|isbn=88-89452-00-5|location=Roma|pages=106–109|language=Italian}}</ref> on the breast. |
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*''Knight/Dame'' (KPO/DPO): who wear the star on the left breast. |
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⚫ | *''Knight |
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⚫ | *''Knight |
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[[Image:Pionono12.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pope Pius IX]], re-instituted the Pian Order under his Papal name and [[pontificate]] in 1847.]] |
[[Image:Pionono12.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pope Pius IX]], re-instituted the Pian Order under his Papal name and [[pontificate]] in 1847.]] |
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width:60%;" |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width:60%;" |
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|- |
|- |
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| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|[[Image:Divisa.Ord.piano.png| |
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|[[Image:Divisa.Ord.piano.png|600px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File: |
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:VAT Order of Pope Pius IX Cav BAR.svg|100px|center]]<small>Knight/Dame</small> |
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File: |
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:VAT Order of Pope Pius IX Comm BAR.svg|100px|center]]<small>Knight/Dame Commander</small> |
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File: |
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:VAT Order of Pope Pius IX Comm w-Star BAR.svg|100px|center]]<small>Knight/Dame Commander with Star</small> |
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:Order Pius |
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:VAT Order of Pope Pius IX GCross BAR.svg|100px|center]]<small>Knight/Dame Grand Cross</small> |
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File: |
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%; text-align:center;"|[[File:VAT Order of Pope Pius IX Collar BAR.svg|100px|center]]<small>Knight with the Collar</small> |
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|} |
|} |
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==Insignia and uniform== |
==Insignia and uniform== |
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The decoration is a regular [[octagram]] made of blue enamel, the spaces between the rays filled with gold flames. On the white medallion in the center the name of the founder surrounded by the words ''Virtuti et Merito'' ("Virtue and Merit") is engraved. The reverse side is the same save for the substitution of ''Anno 1847'' for Pius IX. The rarely worn official uniform consists of an elaborately embroidered dark blue [[Court Uniform|evening coat]] with golden [[epaulette]]s, white [[trousers]], and a white-plumed [[bicorne]]. |
The decoration is a regular [[octagram]] made of blue enamel, the spaces between the rays filled with gold flames. On the white medallion in the center the name of the founder surrounded by the words ''Virtuti et Merito'' ("Virtue and Merit") is engraved. The reverse side is the same save for the substitution of ''Anno 1847'' for Pius IX. The rarely worn official uniform consists of an elaborately embroidered dark blue [[Court Uniform|evening coat]] with golden [[epaulette]]s, white [[trousers]], and a white-plumed [[bicorne]]. |
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=== Royal houses and nobility=== |
=== Royal houses and nobility=== |
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*[[Juan Carlos I]], former King of Spain, first and [[honorary canon]] of the [[Basilica of Saint Mary Major]], with Collar |
*[[Juan Carlos I]], former King of Spain, first and [[honorary canon]] of the [[Basilica of Saint Mary Major]], with Collar |
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*[[Fra Andrew Bertie]], 78th Prince and Grand Master of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]], with Collar |
*[[Andrew Bertie|Fra' Andrew Bertie]], 78th Prince and Grand Master of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]], with Collar |
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*[[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]], with Collar |
*[[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]], with Collar |
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*[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II, King of the Belgians]], with Collar |
*[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II, King of the Belgians]], with Collar |
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*[[Carl XVI Gustaf |
*[[Carl XVI Gustaf|Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden]], with Collar |
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*[[Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein]], with Collar |
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*[[Haile Selassie I]], [[Emperor of Ethiopia]] |
*[[Haile Selassie I]], [[Emperor of Ethiopia]] |
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*[[Mwambutsa IV of Burundi|Mwambutsa IV]], King of Burundi<ref>{{cite news|date=17 December 1962|title=King of Burundi Praised by Pope in Vatican Visit|page=2|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> |
*[[Mwambutsa IV of Burundi|Mwambutsa IV]], King of Burundi<ref>{{cite news|date=17 December 1962|title=King of Burundi Praised by Pope in Vatican Visit|page=2|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> |
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*[[ |
*[[Bhumibol Adulyadej]], [[King of Thailand]], with Collar |
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*[[Gabriel García Moreno|Gabriel García Moreno y Morán de Butrón]], Duke of the Holy Faith (pontifical), former [[President of Ecuador]], with Collar |
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*[[Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th |
*[[Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk]], [[Earl Marshal]], Premier Duke in the [[Peerage of England]] |
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*[[Herman Van Rompuy|Count Herman van Rompuy]], former Prime minister of Belgium |
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*[[ |
*[[Herman Van Rompuy|Herman, Count Van Rompuy]], former prime minister of Belgium |
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*[[ |
*[[Charles de Broqueville|Charles de Broqueville, 1st Comte de Broqueville]], former prime minister of Belgium. |
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*[[Paul de Smet de Naeyer|Paul Joseph, Comte de Smet de Naeyer]], former prime minister of Belgium |
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*[[Charles Woeste| |
*[[Charles Woeste|Charles, Count Woeste]], Belgian Minister |
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=== Heads of State and Politicians=== |
=== Heads of State and Politicians=== |
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[[File:Constantin_Isopescu-Grecul_1930s.jpg|thumb|[[Constantin Isopescu-Grecul]], Austrian-Hungarian/Romanian politician, jurist and legal scholar, wearing the star of the Order of Pius IX]] |
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* [[Emir Abdelkader]], Algerian leader insurgent against French colonial rule.<ref>Bouyerdene 2012, chapter 5</ref> |
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* [[Sergio Mattarella]], current [[President of Italy]] |
* [[Sergio Mattarella]], current [[President of Italy]] |
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* [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]], current [[President of Portugal]] |
* [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]], current [[President of Portugal]] |
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* [[Giorgio Napolitano]], former [[President of Italy]] |
* [[Giorgio Napolitano]], former [[President of Italy]] |
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* [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]], former [[President of Italy]] |
* [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]], former [[President of Italy]] |
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* [[Francesco Cossiga]], former [[President of Italy]] |
* [[Francesco Cossiga]], former [[President of Italy]] |
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* [[Jacques Chirac]], former [[President of France]] |
* [[Jacques Chirac]], former [[President of France]] |
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* [[Marco Fidel Suárez]], former [[President of Colombia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centrodehistoriadebello.org.co/content/cronologia-de-marco-fidel-suarez|title |
* [[Marco Fidel Suárez]], former [[President of Colombia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centrodehistoriadebello.org.co/content/cronologia-de-marco-fidel-suarez|title=Cronología de Marco Fidel Suárez | Centro de Historia de Bello|access-date=2021-09-29|archive-date=2021-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929124751/http://www.centrodehistoriadebello.org.co/content/cronologia-de-marco-fidel-suarez|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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* [[Konstantinos Stephanopoulos]], former [[President of Greece]] |
* [[Konstantinos Stephanopoulos]], former [[President of Greece]] |
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* [[Diosdado Macapagal]], former [[President of the Philippines]] |
* [[Diosdado Macapagal]], former [[President of the Philippines]] |
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* [[Carlos Menem]], former [[President of Argentina]] |
* [[Carlos Menem]], former [[President of Argentina]] |
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* [[Demetris Christofias]], former [[President of Cyprus]] |
* [[Demetris Christofias]], former [[President of Cyprus]] |
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* [[Urho Kekkonen]], former [[President of Finland]] |
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* [[Saitō Makoto]], former [[Prime Minister of Japan]] |
* [[Saitō Makoto]], former [[Prime Minister of Japan]] |
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* [[Władysław Grabski]], former [[Prime Minister of Poland]] |
* [[Władysław Grabski]], former [[Prime Minister of Poland]] |
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* [[Juan Vicente Gómez]], former [[President of Venezuela]] |
* [[Juan Vicente Gómez]], former [[President of Venezuela]] |
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* [[Sukarno]], former [[President of Indonesia]] |
* [[Sukarno]], former [[President of Indonesia]] |
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* [[W.T. Cosgrave]], former [[ |
* [[W.T. Cosgrave]], former [[President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State]] |
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* [[Sean T. O'Kelly]], former [[President of Ireland]] |
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* [[Sarit Thanarat]], former [[Prime Minister of Thailand]] |
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* [[Nikol Pashinyan]], current [[Prime Minister of Armenia]] |
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* [[Ivo Miro Jović]], former member of the [[Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] |
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* [[Giorgio Borg Olivier]], former [[Prime Minister of Malta]] |
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* [[Constantin Isopescu-Grecul]], Romanian politician, jurist and university professor. |
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[[File:WANG YU YUAN.jpg|thumb|[[Larry Wang]], [[Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See|Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See]], wearing [[sash]] and [[Grand Cross|star]] of the Order of Pius IX]] |
[[File:WANG YU YUAN.jpg|thumb|[[Larry Wang]], [[Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See|Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See]], wearing [[sash]] and [[Grand Cross|star]] of the Order of Pius IX]] |
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* [[Callista Gingrich]], former [[United States Ambassador to the Holy See]] |
* [[Callista Gingrich]], former [[United States Ambassador to the Holy See]] |
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* [[Mercedes Arrastia Tuason]], former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[Mercedes Arrastia Tuason]], former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[William A. Wilson (diplomat)|William A. Wilson]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[William A. Wilson (diplomat)|William A. Wilson]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[Frank Shakespeare]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[Frank J. Shakespeare|Francis Joseph Shakespeare]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[Thomas Patrick Melady]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[Thomas Patrick Melady]], former United States Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[Raymond Flynn]], former |
* [[Raymond Flynn]], former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, former Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[Lindy Boggs]], former Member of Congress, former Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[Lindy Boggs]], former Member of Congress, former Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* [[Khétévane Bagration de Moukhrani]], former Georgian Ambassador to the Holy See |
* [[Khétévane Bagration de Moukhrani]], former Georgian Ambassador to the Holy See |
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* |
* [[Tim Fischer]], former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See |
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=== Other notable members=== |
=== Other notable members=== |
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*[[Jean-Pierre Mazery]], Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta |
* [[Jean-Pierre Mazery]], Grand Chancellor of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]] |
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* [[Virgil C. Dechant]], former vice-president for the [[Institute for Works of Religion|Vatican Bank]] & [[Supreme Knight]] of the [[Knights of Columbus]] |
* [[Virgil C. Dechant]], former vice-president for the [[Institute for Works of Religion|Vatican Bank]] & [[Supreme Knight]] of the [[Knights of Columbus]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:38, 5 November 2024
Order of Pope Pius IX Ordine di Pio IX (Italian) | |
---|---|
Awarded by the Holy See | |
Type | Papal order of knighthood |
Established | 17 June 1847[1] |
Religious affiliation | Catholic |
Motto | |
Status | Currently constituted |
First head | Pope Pius IV |
Sovereign | Pope Francis |
Classes |
|
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of the Golden Spur |
Next (lower) | Order of St. Gregory the Great |
Ribbon bar of the order |
The Order of Pope Pius IX (Italian: Ordine di Pio IX), also referred as the Pian Order (Italian: Ordine Piano, pronounced [piˈaːno]), is a papal order of knighthood originally founded by Pope Pius IV in 1560. Currently, it is the highest honor conferred by the Holy See (being the Order of Christ and the Order of the Golden Spur currently dormant). The awarding of the order fell into disuse and was re-instituted by Pope Pius IX as a continuation on 17 June 1847.[1]
The highest rank awarded by the Pope is the Collar of the Order, usually to Catholic heads of state on the occasion of official visits to the Holy See. The Grand Cross is the highest Papal award given to lay men and women, ordinarily given to resident Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years in post and rarely to exceptional Catholics in the wider world for particular services, mainly in the international field and for outstanding deeds for Church and society.
The rank of Knight is almost never awarded, and when it happens, it is given in recognition of high-profile services rendered to the Holy See or directly to the person of the Pontiff, by Catholic faithful of distinguished status, almost always belonging to ancient European noble families.
The other two ranks (Commander and Commander with Star) are granted sparingly to lay Catholics, usually in diplomatic roles, for extraordinary merit or deeds for the Church and society. The order is awarded to Catholics and, on occasion and only for diplomatic reasons, to non-Catholics and non-Christians as well.
History of the Order
[edit]The Order was founded on 17 June 1847, by Pope Pius IX with the decree Romanis Pontificibus, placing it as the continuation of the ancient order established by Pope Pius IV with the bull Pii patris amplissimi on March 1559.[2] These noble knights formed the lay court of the Roman Pontiff, being defined participants, since they "participated" in the life of the Pontiff, offering him an escort and often residing in the Apostolic Palace; they often shared the table with the Pontiff and accompanied him during his daily tasks.
The subsequent decree Cum Hominum Mentes of 17 June 1849, confirmed the ancient privilege of personal nobility through membership in the Pian Order, thus creating it the only ennobler of the Holy Apostolic See. With another decree dated 11 November 1856, the Roman Pontiff himself divided the Order into three classes: Knight Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight.
Pope Pius X reformed the Pontifical orders with the decree Multum ad excitandos of 7 February 1905,[3] the new class of Commander with star (correspondent to the class of Grand Officer) was created.
The Pian Order was then reformed again by Pope Pius XII, with a Bull dated 11 November 1939, which suppressed the privilege of nobility.[4] From the historical point of view, the Knighthood of the Grand Cross of the Pian Order has held the role that was of the Militia Aurata before the reform of Gregory XVI, namely that of title of rank and ennobling of the Holy See from the sixteenth century to 1841.
Order of Classes
[edit]The Order comprises five classes:[5]
- Knight with the Collar (GCCPO): who wear a gold chain around their shoulders which is decorated with the papal tiara and two doves, and on the breast a large star. It is the highest active papal decoration, and is reserved for heads of state.
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCPO):[6] who wear a wide dark blue silk ribbon (sash) bordered with red which extends saltire-wise from the left shoulder to the right side where the insignia of the order is suspended by a rosette, and on the breast a large diamond-studded star. It is commonly awarded to the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.
- Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*PO/DC*PO): who in addition to the badge wear a star of smaller design than that of Knights of the Grand Cross[2][7] on the breast.
- Knight/Dame Commander (KCPO/DCPO): who wear the decoration at the neck.
- Knight/Dame (KPO/DPO): who wear the star on the left breast.
Knight/Dame | Knight/Dame Commander | Knight/Dame Commander with Star | Knight/Dame Grand Cross | Knight with the Collar |
Insignia and uniform
[edit]The decoration is a regular octagram made of blue enamel, the spaces between the rays filled with gold flames. On the white medallion in the center the name of the founder surrounded by the words Virtuti et Merito ("Virtue and Merit") is engraved. The reverse side is the same save for the substitution of Anno 1847 for Pius IX. The rarely worn official uniform consists of an elaborately embroidered dark blue evening coat with golden epaulettes, white trousers, and a white-plumed bicorne.
Knights with the Collar wear a gold decorated chain around the neck, and a star on the left side of the breast; Knights Grand Cross wear a sash and a 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:
Notable members
[edit]Royal houses and nobility
[edit]- Juan Carlos I, former King of Spain, first and honorary canon of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, with Collar
- Fra' Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, with Collar
- Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, with Collar
- Albert II, King of the Belgians, with Collar
- Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, with Collar
- Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, with Collar
- Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia
- Mwambutsa IV, King of Burundi[8]
- Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, with Collar
- Gabriel García Moreno y Morán de Butrón, Duke of the Holy Faith (pontifical), former President of Ecuador, with Collar
- Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, Premier Duke in the Peerage of England
- Herman, Count Van Rompuy, former prime minister of Belgium
- Charles de Broqueville, 1st Comte de Broqueville, former prime minister of Belgium.
- Paul Joseph, Comte de Smet de Naeyer, former prime minister of Belgium
- Charles, Count Woeste, Belgian Minister
Heads of State and Politicians
[edit]- Emir Abdelkader, Algerian leader insurgent against French colonial rule.[9]
- Sergio Mattarella, current President of Italy
- Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, current President of Portugal
- Nicos Anastasiades, former President of Cyprus[10]
- Giorgio Napolitano, former President of Italy
- Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, former President of Italy
- Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, former President of Italy
- Francesco Cossiga, former President of Italy
- Jacques Chirac, former President of France
- Marco Fidel Suárez, former President of Colombia[11]
- Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, former President of Greece
- Diosdado Macapagal, former President of the Philippines
- Juscelino Kubitschek, former President of Brazil
- Carlos Menem, former President of Argentina
- Demetris Christofias, former President of Cyprus
- Urho Kekkonen, former President of Finland
- Saitō Makoto, former Prime Minister of Japan
- Władysław Grabski, former Prime Minister of Poland
- George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece
- Franz Von Papen, former Vice-Chancellor of Germany
- Juan Vicente Gómez, former President of Venezuela
- Sukarno, former President of Indonesia
- W.T. Cosgrave, former President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
- Sean T. O'Kelly, former President of Ireland
- Sarit Thanarat, former Prime Minister of Thailand
- Nikol Pashinyan, current Prime Minister of Armenia
- Ivo Miro Jović, former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Giorgio Borg Olivier, former Prime Minister of Malta
- Constantin Isopescu-Grecul, Romanian politician, jurist and university professor.
Diplomats to the Holy See
[edit]- Callista Gingrich, former United States Ambassador to the Holy See
- Mercedes Arrastia Tuason, former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See
- William A. Wilson, former United States Ambassador to the Holy See
- Francis Joseph Shakespeare, former United States Ambassador to the Holy See
- Thomas Patrick Melady, former United States Ambassador to the Holy See
- Raymond Flynn, former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, former Ambassador to the Holy See
- Lindy Boggs, former Member of Congress, former Ambassador to the Holy See
- Khétévane Bagration de Moukhrani, former Georgian Ambassador to the Holy See
- Tim Fischer, former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See
Other notable members
[edit]- Jean-Pierre Mazery, Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- Virgil C. Dechant, former vice-president for the Vatican Bank & Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Rock, P.M.J. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- ^ a b Henneresse, Dominique (2019). Ordres et Décorations du Saint-Siège (in French). Città del Vaticano: LEV Libreria Editrice Vaticana (Vatican Publishing House). pp. 89–90, 104–105. ISBN 978-88-266-0241-7.
- ^ "Acta Sanctae Sedis: ephemerides romanae a SS.mo D. N. Pio PP. X" (PDF). Vatican.va. p. 565. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato Vaticana (1968). Annuario Pontificio (in Italian). Città del Vaticano: LEV - Libreria Editrice Vaticana. p. 1103.
- ^ "The Papal Order of Pius IX". The Christian Knighthood Information Center. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Order of Pius IX (Pian Order)". Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Michele D'Andrea, Fabio Cassani Pironti (2005). Vestire gli onori (in Italian). Roma: In.edit. pp. 106–109. ISBN 88-89452-00-5.
- ^ "King of Burundi Praised by Pope in Vatican Visit". The New York Times. 17 December 1962. p. 2.
- ^ Bouyerdene 2012, chapter 5
- ^ "President Anastasiades receives the highest honour of the Holy See". ΚΥΠΕ. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Cronología de Marco Fidel Suárez | Centro de Historia de Bello". Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.