Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Roman Catholic award

Award

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Obverse of the current medal

Awarded for| Rewarding those who in a general way deserve well of the pope on account of services done for the Church and its head
Country| Holy See
Presented by|  Holy See
Eligibility| Clergy and laity
Status| Currently awarded
Established| 17 July 1888

Current ribbon

Previous ribbon

Precedence
Next (higher)| Order of St. Sylvester
Next (lower)| Benemerenti Medal

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ("For Church and Pope" in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy.

## History

[edit]

The medal was established by Leo XIII on 17 July 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally bestowed on the men and women who had aided and promoted the jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful.[1]

In 1898, it became a permanent papal distinction.[2] Pius X reduced the classes to a single one in 1908.[2]

Until 1993, it was the highest honour that could be obtained by women.[3]

## Appearance

[edit]

### 1888 version of Leo XIII

[edit]

The cross was initially only cast in gold and silver.[2] A bronze version was added later.[2] On the medal is a cross made octangular by fleurs-de-lis fixed in the angles of the cross. The arms of the cross narrow towards the center, with slightly indented ends, approaching the form of the patonce cross. In the center of the cross is a small medal with the image of Leo XIII. The words "Leo XIII P. M. Anno X" (tenth year of his pontificate) circle the image. In the center of the reverse side are the papal emblems. The motto Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is stamped in the circle surrounding the emblems.

On the obverse side of the medal, the branches of the cross are comets, which, with the fleurs-de-lis, form the coat of arms of the Pecci family [it]. Stamped on the reverse side are the words "Pridie" (on the left branch), "Kal" (on the top branch), and "Januar" (on the right branch) and the year "1888" (at the foot of the cross). The medal's ribbon is red, with delicate lines of white and yellow on each border.[a] The cross is worn on the left side of the breast.[b][4]

### Current version since Paul VI

[edit]

The current version was introduced by pope Paul VI and is only awarded in gold. The obverse depicts the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the centre of the cross.[5] The inscription Pro Ecclesia (For Church) is stamped on the left arm, Et Pontifice (And Pope) on the right. Three small crosses are situated at the end of the left, bottom and right cross arm. During the reigns of Paul VI and John Paul II, the top arm of the cross bore the coat of arms of the reigning Pope and his name in Latin on the bottom cross arm. The decoration's ribbon is in the papal yellow and white.

This design was modified under Benedict XVI: the personal arms of the reigning pope were replaced by a small cross, while the coat of arms of the Holy See replaced the small cross on the bottom arm.[2] The name of the reigning pope no longer appears on the front.[2]

## Gallery

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* Version 1888

* Version 1978–2005

* The medal on the uniform of a papal zouave

* Ellen Ammann with Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

## Recipients

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### Leo XIII (1878-1903)

[edit]

* 1902 – Wilfred Spruson, Bessie Anstice Baker

### Pius X (1903-1912)

[edit]

* 1908 – Marija Jambrišak[6]
* 1910 – Emilie Hopmann[7]

### Benedict XV (1914-1922)

[edit]

* 1914 – Ellen Ammann
* 1916 – Mary Kate Barlow, Milutin Mayer (hr)[8]

### Pius XI (1922-1939)

[edit]

* 1924 – James Merry, organist and choirmaster of St Peter's, Cardiff, for over 40 years
* 1928 – Jano Köhler
* 1938 - María Camino Sanz Orrio, President of Catholic Action during the Spanish Civil War.[9]
* 1938 – Constance Le Plastrier, Agatha Le Breton[10]
* 1938 – Catherine Bonifas

### Pius XII (1939-1958)

[edit]

* 1939 – Petra Vela de Vidal Kenedy[11]
* 1942
* Helen Murray Bradford, Past President Alumnae Association of Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart
* Marica Stanković[12]
* Lady Margaret Armstrong, president of the Ladies of Charity of the New York Archdiocese.[13]
* 1947 – Edouard Heene
* 194x – Miguel Regidor Nadres
* 195x - Councillor Christiaan Verdult, Chelmsford's first Roman Catholic mayor for 'outstanding services to the church'
* 1951 - May Roach, for tireless efforts at Central State Teachers College and in and around the Stevens Point, Wisconsin area.
* 1952 – Sarita Kenedy East[14]
* 1953 - Mr Piet Senster, Kerkrade, Nederland
* 1954 – Ernest E. L. Hammer
* 1954 - Christiaan Hermanus Cornelis Alvares
* 1955 – Mrs. Emil Borth, for 50 years of service as organist at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Duluth, Minnesota, Richard Keys Biggs for 27 years of service as organist at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Hollywood.[15]

### Pope John XXIII (1958-1963)

[edit]

* 1959 - Euphemia Haynes

### Paul VI (1963-1978)

[edit]

* 19xx – Anna Langohr[16]
* 1963 - Brother Mathias Barrett, Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque, NM, USA; The Shepherd’s Call, July/Aug 1963.
* 1965 - David Whiteaker MM
* 1967 - Mary M. Schneider
* 1968 – Xavier Sewell
* 1969 - James Alberione and the Society of Saint Paul[17]
* 1973 – William Maurice Carrigan
* 1977 – Kathleen Mary Burrow[18]

### John Paul II (1978-2005)

[edit]

* 1979 – Ayako Sono[19]
* 1979 Chevalier Dr. T. Raja Pinheiro. he is from Punnaikayal Pearl Fishery Coast of South India around Tuticorin.
* 1979 Dr. A. Raja Pinheiro. Founder Chairman of Rajan Group of Companies M/s. Rajan Universals Mfrs. & Exports Pvt. Ltd. M/s. Amusements & Picnic Resort Pvt. Ltd. ( Dolphin City & Little Folks, Chennai ) M/s. Raj Inter Continental M/s. Raja Pinheiro Charitable Trust. he is from Punnaikayal Pearl Fishery Coast of South India around Tuticorin.
* 1987 - Magdalena Villaba
* 1988 – Donald Swan, for Exceptional Service to Education in Greenwich, London
* 1989 - Alojzija Ulman (hr)[20]
* 1990 – Bela Gabrič (hr)[21]
* 1991 - T. K. John Thekkumparampil, for exceptional service to the church and for his contributions to the establishment of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.
* 1992 - Thomas Zullo, for Exceptional and Lifelong Service to the Church in New York and California (Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
* 1992 - Joaan Zullo, for Exceptional and Lifelong Service to the Church in New York and California: Financial Director of St. Paschal Baylon Church from 1990 to 2021 (Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
* 1995 - Constancia Baclig Madrid, Lay Minister and Catechist, St. Anne Parish of Buguey, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley Philippines
* 1996 - Claire Henshall (Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale, Victoria Australia) Warragul Parish for her musical contribution as the organist to the parish for over 50 years
* 1997 – Dolores R. Leckey[22]
* 1997 – Father Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I.
* ? – Conor Mullaly, OFM
* ? – Sister Margherita Marchione, MPF
* 1999 – Marko Malović (hr),[23] Vladimir Stanković (hr)
* 2001 - Francis and Barbara Scholtz
* 2003 – Mária Spoločníková,[24] Ljubo Kuntarić (hr)[25]
* 2005 – David J. Young, Esq., Brother Patrick Lovegrove, FSP.

### Benedict XVI (2005-2013)

[edit]

* 2006 – Rita Hamel Karing[26]
* 2008 – Emmanuel Latif, Stanisław Pawlina FDP[27]
* 2009 – Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA
* 2010 − Bonaventura Duda[28]

### Francis (2013-present)

[edit]

* 2013 – Paul Salamunovich
* 2014- Roberto Servitje Sendra
* 2016 - Léon Bernard Mathilde Giot. Belgian baritone, choirmaster of more than 5 choirs, conductor of the one and only church symphonic orchestra, singing teacher, National Coordinator for Belgium for the World Voice Day, member of the International Federation of Choral Music, chief editor, journalist, Knight of the Belgian Cross, diplôme de Médaille d'Or Arts-Sciences-Lettres de Paris, cantor and organist in more than 17 parishes and 4 dioceses, singer of the national anthem at various national ceremonies, founder of the international singing school based on natural breathing and diction for singers. ( Papal parchment dd 22 / 11 / 2016 )
* 2017 – Anne Ward, for considerable contribution to the musical life of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.[29] Marilyn Roberts Archdiocese of Liverpool.
* 2018 – Father Peter Michael Ryan,[30] Joseph Orzech, Henry Tupaj Sr.[31] Daisy Domingo, Diocese of San Jose, California USA.
* 2019 – Father Philip G. Bochanski, Helen McConnell, Philip J. Miraglia, Louise M. Sullivan,[32] Manuel A. Beltran, Sister Maureen Crissy, RSM, Becky Espanol, Kevin L. Hughes, Sister Patricia Kelly, MSBT, Brother Richard E. Kestler, FSC, Jose L. Lozad, Matthew McCloskey, Sister Anne Patricia Myers, SSJ, Sister M. Edward William Quinn, IHM, Thomas W. Smith[33]
* 2020 – Emile Wijntuin, former Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname.[34]
* 2021 – Deirdre Leach MBE, Rev. Peter E. Sousa, CSsR, Rafael Manzano Martos, Manoj Durairaj
* 2021 - Nova Villa, Actress and Mother Butler Guild member, Diocese of Novaliches
* 2022 – Pura Sumangil, nun, educator, and social activist, Philippines
* 2022 – John Bernard Flynn,[35] Pat Kennedy Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
* 2022 – Fr. Ernesto O. Javier, S.J., Alejandro Aguspina Jr, Archdiocese of Cebu, and 7 other recipients
* 2023 - Catherine O’Leary, Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation (LACE), Brother Nicholas Harsas, FSP.
* 2024 - Mary Greene (Wallace), Church of the Assumption, Taghmon, Diocese of Meath
* 2024 - fr. Alexander Ninkovic, Archdiocese of Belgrade, Serbia.
* 2024 - Pétur Marteinn Páll Urbancic, Iceland.

## See also

[edit]

* List of ecclesiastical decorations

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ There is information about the existence of a purple ribbon with white-yellow edges, which should have been used from 1893 to 1908. Such a ribbon most certainly did not exist. It is probably the visual implementation based on the description in the papal letter Quod singulari Dei concessu: "[…] purpurei coloris linea alba flavaque ad utramque oram virgata dependeat […]". The translation of "purpurei coloris" as violet and "linea alba flavaque" as a yellow-white line leads to a different appearance of the ribbon. See:

2. ^ The frequently cited Catholic Encyclopedia article "Pontifical Decorations" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4\. 1908. wrongly states that the cross is worn on the right side.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rock, P. M. J. (1908). "Pontifical Decorations" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Ehrenzeichen (auch als ""Ehrenkreuz"" bezeichnet) ""Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice""". www.kuenker.de. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
3. ^ Norbert Göckener. "Was sind Päpstliche Ehrentitel?". www.kirche-und-leben.de. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
4. ^ "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. For the Church and the Pope". antique-photos.com. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
5. ^ "Cardinal Brady confers Papal award of the Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice – 'for the Church and the Pontiff' – to Mr Joe Fallon | Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference". www.catholicbishops.ie. Catholicbishops.ie. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
6. ^ Lončarević, Vladimir (23 January 2021). "KATOLIKINJA KOJA SE ZAUZIMALA ZA RAVNOPRAVNOST ŽENA 23. siječnja 1937. umrla je Marija Jambrišak – prvakinja hrvatskoga učiteljstva". Glas Koncila (in Croatian).
7. ^ "Emilie Hopmann | Portal Rheinische Geschichte". www.rheinische-geschichte.lvr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-28.
8. ^ "Mayer, Milutin". knjiznica-kutina.hr (in Croatian). Kutina Library. "Za to vrijeme (4. veljače 1916. godine) dobio je zlatnu kolajnu "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" od pape Benedikta XV. za svoje zasluge na književnom polju."
9. ^ "RELIGIÓN EN NAVARRA ERLIJIOA NAFARROAN"
10. ^ "Amongst Our Catholic People". Catholic Freeman's Journal. Vol. LXXXVI. New South Wales, Australia. 6 January 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 4 October 2021 - via National Library of Australia.
11. ^ Jane Clements Monday (1997). Voices from the Wild Horse Desert. University of Texas Press. p. 174\. ISBN 978-0-292-75204-7.
12. ^ "Životni put Marice Stanković" [Life of Marica Stanković]. maricastankovic.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
13. ^ "LADY ARMSTRONG CATHOLIC CHARITIES LEADER, DIES AT 76". Catholic News Service. 1 June 1953. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
14. ^ Jasinski, Laurie E. (September 5, 2019). "East, Sarita Kenedy". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
15. ^ "Events of the Year 1955 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). The Diapason. 47 (2): 6. January 1, 1956.
16. ^ Das Attentat von Köln-Volkhoven Archived 2007-12-16 at the Wayback Machine, Ursula-Kuhr-Schule
17. ^ "The Society of Saint Paul SSP", Archdiocese of Lviv
18. ^ Payten, Marianne, "Burrow, Kathleen Mary (Kate) (1899–1987)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2022-08-26
19. ^ 曾野綾子プロフィール. Prime Minister's Official Residence (Japan) (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 August 2015.
20. ^ Kraljević, Snježana. "Spomen na vrijednu umjetnicu i praktičnu vjernicu". Glas Koncila (in Croatian). Vol. LIX, no. 2416\. p. 23\. ISSN 0436-0311.
21. ^ "Stota obljetnica rođenja istaknutog kulturnog djelatnika prof. Bele Gabrića". zkvh.org.rs (in Croatian). Zavod za kulturu vojvođanskih Hrvata. 10 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021.
22. ^ Jones, Arthur (1997). "She was bishop's right-hand woman for years". National Catholic Reporter. 34 (9): 5 - via EBSCO.
23. ^ "U 73. godini, napustio nas je fra Marko Malović, dugogodišnji gvardijan Župna crkve sv. Roka u Virovitici koji je za svoj pastoralni rad dobio odlikovanje Svetog Oca Pape". vpz.hr (in Croatian). Virovitica-Podravina County. 16 September 2018. "Inače, 1999. godine, đakovački i srijemski biskup Marin Srakić uručio je fra Marku Maloviću, tadašnjem gvardijanu Samostana sv. Ivana Kapistrana, Papino odlikovanje "Za Crkvu i Papu" (Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice), u tijeku koncelebriranoga misnog slavlja u istoimenoj iločkoj crkvi."
24. ^ "Na Katolíckej univerzite v Ružomberku otvorili nový akademický rok". www.tkkbs.sk. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
25. ^ "Sjećamo se iznimnog skladatelja - Ljube Kuntarića!". hgu.hr (in Croatian). Croatian Music Union. 18 June 2020. "Zlatno odličje Pro ecclesia et pontifice pape Ivana Pavla 2. za doprinos sakralnoj glazbi (2003.)"
26. ^ "Remembering the life of Rita Hamel Karing 1931". obituaries.sharonherald.com. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
27. ^ "Zmarł ks. Stanisław Pawlina FDP". orione.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-08-30.
28. ^ Cifrak, Mario (14 September 2017). "Odlazak evanđeoskog propovjednika". Vijenac (in Croatian). No. 613–614. "...najvažnije je došlo od pape Benedikta XVI – Pro Ecclesia et pontifice – koje mu je uručio kardinal Josip Bozanić u povodu 60. obljetnice svećeništva."
29. ^ abliturgy (2017-09-03). "Anne Ward receives Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal". A&B Liturgy. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
30. ^ NZ Catholic - Decades of service in Maori Mission recognised by Pope, 7 Jan 2019.
31. ^ "Pope Francis Confers Papal Honors on Two N.H. Laymen". The Berlin Sun.
32. ^ "10 Catholics named to receive papal honors". Catholic Philly. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
33. ^ "Pope Francis Bestows Honors Upon 28 Individuals for Exceptional Service to the Church in Philadelphia". Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
34. ^ "Hoogste pauselijke onderscheiding voor wijlen Emile Wijntuin". GFC Nieuws (in Dutch). 19 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
35. ^ "Pope honours local four". 9 April 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

* Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice For the Church and the Pope In: antique-photos.com.
* Ulrich Nersinger: Päpstliche Ritterorden und Auszeichnungen. In: ZENIT.org, 18\. May 2007.
* Rock, P. M. J. (1908). "Pontifical Decorations" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4.
* Ehrenzeichen (auch als ""Ehrenkreuz"" bezeichnet) "Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice" in: kuenker.de

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Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See

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