The Secretariat of State reaffirms its position on chivalric orders, noting that the Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, besides its own chivalric orders.
Vatican News
The Secretariat of State has issued a clarification on the Holy See’s position regarding chivalric orders, following numerous requests for information about organizations dedicated to saints or bearing sacred titles.
Released on Saturday, the statement reiterated that, in addition to its own chivalric orders, the Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
“It does not intend to change this policy,” the statement said.
The Holy See’s own orders are the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Pian Order, also known as the Order of Pope Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, and the Order of Saint Sylvester the Pope.
Unrecognized orders
The statement noted that all other equestrian orders, whether newly established or claiming descent from medieval orders, are not recognized by the Holy See, which cannot vouch for their historical and juridical legitimacy, purposes, or organizational structures.
The Secretariat of State explained that the clarification sought to prevent misunderstandings arising in part from the unlawful issuance of documents and the improper use of sacred places, as well as abuses that harm people acting in good faith.
“The Holy See reaffirms that it attaches no value to knighthood diplomas and related insignia issued by unrecognized organizations and does not consider the use of churches and chapels for so-called ‘investiture ceremonies’ to be appropriate,” concludes the statement.
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