Order of St. Gregory the Great

For the monastic order, see Sylvestrines.

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
Type	Papal order of knighthood
Established	1 September 1831;194 years ago (1831-09-01)
Religious affiliation	Catholic
Motto	Pro Deo et Principe (Latin) For God and Ruler (English)
Status	Currently constituted
First head	Pope Gregory XVI
Sovereign	Pope 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 grades	Knight/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. ^[1]

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) ^[2] 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.

History and appointment

See also: St. Gregory the Great

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.

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. ^[4] 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. ^[5]

Vestments and accoutrements

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 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

• Frederick Blakeney, 1964, Australian diplomat, Knight Grand Cross ^[7]
• Dominique, Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, 2023, Knight Grand Cross
• Sir George Bowyer, 6th Baronet, Knight Grand Cross ^[8]
• General Sir Peter 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 Class
• Baron Henry 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 Cross
• Alice 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]
• Count Hippolyte d'Ursel
• Count Léo d'Ursel, ambassador
• Count Charles Woeste

Knight/Dame Commander with Star

• Bob Hope, 1998, American entertainer (convert to Catholicism) ^[23]
• Francis Martin O'Donnell, 2007, Ambassador and Knight of Malta, previously in UN service for 32 years
• G. K. Chesterton, ^[24] 1934, English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic (convert to Catholicism)
• Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis, ^[25] 2008, Dame Commander with Star
• Albert Gubay, 2011, founder of Kwik Save supermarket chain and Total Fitness ^[26]

Knight Commander and Dame Commander

• Roy E. Disney, 1998 ^[23]
• Sir Patrick 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, UK Chief of the Defence Staff
• Hendrik Samuel Houthakker, 2003, Knight Commander with Silver Star, Member of Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers, husband of Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka.
• John Hume, 2012, Northern Irish politician and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize ^[30]
• Ignazio Jacometti, sculptor, appointed by Pope Pius IX. ^[31]
• Saunders Lewis, 1975, Welsh nationalist politician, founder of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru and prominent figure in Welsh-language literature ^[32] (convert to Catholicism)
• John McLoughlin, 1847, Hudson's Bay Company Chief Factor of Fort Vancouver, 1st mayor of Oregon City.
• Kevin McNamara, British Politician ^[33]
• Maurice Gerard Moynihan, 1959, Secretary of the Government of the Irish Free State and Governor of the Central 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 organization Risshō 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, future contralmirante (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 Italy
• John J. Raskob, American financial executive and businessman (DuPont, General Motors); financed the building of the Empire State Building
• Carlo Emanuele Ruspoli, 3rd Duke of Morignano, 2004 ^[38]
• Paul Salamunovich, 1969, American choral conductor and expert on Gregorian chant.
• Sir Jimmy Savile, 1990, English radio DJ and television presenter-broadcaster ^[39] (In 2012, after Savile's death, an annulment of the honor was requested by the Archbishop of Westminster. This was declined on the basis that the life honor died with the individual.) ^{[40] [41]}
• Roger Wagner, by Pope Paul VI, American choral conductor
• Mordecai Waxman, 1998, Rabbi (Conservative Judaism)
• Prof. Mr.Teng Tjin Leng ,1984, Founder of Atmajaya Makassar University & Hassanuddin University , First Indonesian To Receive Order Of St Gregory the Great ^[42]

Knight/Dame

• Walter Annenberg, who created TV Guide ^[43]
• Mariano Armellini, Italian archaeologist ^[44]
• Thomas Bodkin, lawyer, art historian, art collector and curator ^[45]
• Joanna Bogle, 2013, British Roman Catholic writer and broadcaster ^[46]
• Phyllis Bowman, 1996, British journalist and anti-abortion campaigner ^[47]
• Esteban Campodónico, 1928, Italian-Peruvian medical doctor, university professor, and philanthropist ^[48]
• Henry Cooper, 1978, champion heavyweight boxer (convert to Catholicism)
• John J. Coppinger, 1861, US Army major general ^[49]
• John A. Creighton, 1898, businessman and philanthropist in Omaha ^[50]
• John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute ^[8]
• Ralph Downes, 1970, English organist, organist of the London Oratory, organ teacher and organ designer (including organ of the Royal Festival Hall London) ^[51]
• Jude Patrick Dougherty, 1999, American philosopher, Dean Emeritus of the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America ^[52]
• Eamon Duffy, 2017, Irish historian and emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge ^[53]
• Philip Duffy, 1982, Master of Music at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral from 1966 to 1996
• Joseph Esposito, 2002, Chief of the New York City Police Department ^[54]
• Brian Gill, Lord Gill, (2011) Lord President of Scotland 2012-2015 ^[55]
• Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, chairman of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha UK, and Sikh interfaith dialogue leader ^{[56] [57]}
• Yuri Nikolayevich Maklakov, teacher of Russian language and literature
• Bambang Soegeng, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
• Emanuele Luigi Galizia, Maltese architect and civil engineer ^[58]
• Joe Gladwin, British actor and comedian ^{[59] [60]}
• Sheilagh Kesting, 2016, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and former Ecumenical Officer of the Church of Scotland
• Ilyas 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 ^[61] former Master of the Music, Westminster Cathedral
• John A. McCone, 1955, US Industrialist, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and former head of the Atomic Energy Commission
• George Menachery, 2008, Editor of the St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India and Director of the SARAS, ^[62] philanthropist
• Jean Migneault, former Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
• Patrick Millen, 1991, New Zealand public servant ^[63]
• Ricardo Montalbán, ^[64] 1998, Mexican / American actor
• Paul Victor Obeng, 2009, ^[65] Ghanaian mechanical engineer and statesman
• Isabel Piczek, 1998, artist ^[66]
• Joseph Ryelandt, Belgian composer ^[67]
• Jovan Sundečić, 1886, Serbian Orthodox priest and Montenegrin official ^[68]
• Ann Widdecombe, 2013, British politician ^[69]
• Michael Williams, 2001, English actor^{[ citation needed ]}
• Sebastian Kyalwazi, 1968, Ugandan surgeon, researcher and academic. ^[70]
• Alfred Grünberger, 1924, Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs. ^[71]
• J. L. P. Roche Victoria (Former State Minister from Tamil Nadu).
• James Carine, Royal Navy officer.

References

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24. "Pope Honors 2 Writers; Makes G.K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc Knight Commanders". The New York Times. 25 May 1934.
25. Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis erhält päpstlichen St.-Gregorius-Orden Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Bistum Regensburg.
26. Albert Gubay 'overwhelmed' with Papal award – website BBC News, 23 February 2011
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28. "Joseph Ghougassian to Receive Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award". USD News Center. University of San Diego. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
29. Johnson, Brent (15 August 1997). "College adds spirituality to teaching of psychology". The North County Times.
30. "John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
31. Jacometti, Ignazio Entry by Simona Sclocchi in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 62 (2004)
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52. "Jude Patrick Dougherty obituary" (PDF) (Press release). Catholic University of America. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
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54. 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.
55. Daniel Harkins (7 May 2015). "First Catholic to become Scotland's most senior judge to retire". Scottish Catholic Observer. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
56. Live, Birmingham (14 June 2012). "Your News: Sikh Papal Knighthood in Birmingham". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
57. Baker, Nigel. "Sikhs honoured by Catholics" . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
58. Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 2 G–Z. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 891. ISBN   978-9993291329.
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General and cited references

• 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.

External links

• Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
• Photograph
• Catholic Knighthood article from Time Magazine , 25 Jun 1928, reporting an award of the Order of St. Gregory the Great