''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' ("For Church and Pope" in

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

) is a

decoration Decoration may refer to: * Decorative arts * A house painter and decorator's craft * An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc. * An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing Othe ...

of the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...

. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

by lay people and

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

History

The

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

was established by

Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII ( it, Leone XIII; born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) was the head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 to his death in July 1903. Living until the age of 93, he was the second-ol ...

on 17 July 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally bestowed on those men and women who had aided and promoted the jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful. In 1898, it became a permanent papal distinction. Pius X reduced the classes to a single one in 1908. Until 1993, it was the highest honour that could be obtained by women.

Appearance

1888 version of Leo XIII

The cross was initially only cast in

gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...

and

silver Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...

. A

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids suc ...

version was added later. On the medal is a cross made octangular by

fleurs-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

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

. 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 A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. M ...

''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' is stamped in the circle surrounding the emblems. On the

obverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ...

side of the medal, the branches of the cross are

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ...

s, which, with the fleurs-de-lis, form the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

of the . 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 A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mat ...

is red, with delicate lines of white and yellow on each border. The cross is worn on the left side of breast.

Current version since Paul VI

The current version was introduced by pope

Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

and is only awarded in gold. The obverse depicts the

Apostles An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...

Saint Peter ) (Simeon, Simon) , birth_date = , birth_place = Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria, Roman Empire , death_date = Between AD 64–68 , death_place = probably Vatican Hill, Rome, Italia, Roman Empire , parents = John (or Jonah; Jona) , occupat ...

and

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

in the centre of the cross. The inscription ''Pro Ecclesia'' (For Church) is stamped on the left arm, ''Et Pontifice'' (And Pope) on the right. Three small

crosses Crosses may refer to: * Cross, the symbol Geography * Crosses, Cher, a French municipality * Crosses, Arkansas, a small community located in the Ozarks of north west Arkansas Language * Crosses, a truce term used in East Anglia and Lincolnshire ...

are situated at the end of the left, bottom and right cross arm. During the pontificat of Paul VI and

John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

, the top arm of the cross carried the coat of arms of the reigning Pope and his name in Latin on the bottom cross arm. The decoration's ribbon shows is yellow and white: the colors of the Papacy. The design was modified under

Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...

: The individual coat of arms in the top arm of the decoration was replaced by a small cross while the

coat of arms of the Holy See The coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City in the form that combines two crossed keys and a tiara used as a coat of arms of the Holy See have origins attested from the 14th century."A red shield bearing two white crossed keys, and surmou ...

replaced the small cross on the bottom arm. The name of the reigning pope no longer appears on the front side.

Gallery

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice 1888.jpg, Version 1888 Modern Kruis Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice voorzijde.gif, Version 1978–2005 Royal Belgian Army Museum 10.JPG, The medal on the uniform of a papal

zouave The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa; as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves were among the most decorated unit ...

Ellen Ammann 2 JS.jpg,

Ellen Ammann Ellen Aurora Ammann (1 July 1870 - 23 November 1932) was a German politician and activist of Swedish origin, a representative of the Bavarian People's Party. Her cause for sainthood has been opened by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich a ...

with Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Recipients

*1902 – Wilfred Spruson, Bessie Anstice Baker *1916 – Mary Kate Barlow *1924 – James Merry, organist and choirmaster of St Peter's, Cardiff, for over 40 years *1928 – Jano Köhler *1938 –

Constance Le Plastrier Constance Mary Le Plastrier (23 January 1864 – 7 February 1938) was an Australian schoolteacher, botanist and writer. She was the first woman to be elected president of the Field Naturalists' Society of New South Wales. Shortly before her dea ...

, Agatha Le Breton *1938 – Catherine Bonifas *1947 –

Edouard Heene Edouard Heene (27 Jul 1872 – 24 Jul 1947) was a Belgian master builder in the Meetjesland late in the 19th and early in the 20th century. He was a major figure in the monumental architectural development of Eeklo; among his projects was ...

*194x – Miguel Regidor Nadres *1954 – Ernest E. L. Hammer *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. *1968 - Xavier Sewell *1973 - William Maurice Carrigan *1977 -

Kathleen Mary Burrow Kathleen Mary Burrow (1899 - 1987) was an Australian physiotherapist, businesswoman and Catholic lay leader. She and her sister Anne founded the Graham-Burrow School of Physical Education in 1926. They organized courses in dance, physical educa ...

*1979 - Ayako Sono *1988 – Donald Swan, for Exceptional Service to Education in Greenwich, London *1997- Father Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I. *? – Conor Mullaly, OFM *? – Sister Margherita Marchione, MPF *2005 – David J. Young, Esq. *2006 – Rita Hamel Karing *2008 – Emmanuel Latif, Stanisław Pawlina FDP *2009 – Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA *2013 – Paul Salamunovich *2017 – Anne Ward, for considerable contribution to the musical life of the

Diocese of Arundel and Brighton The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton (in la, Dioecesis Arundeliensis-Brichtelmestunensis) is a Latin Church Roman Catholic diocese in southern England covering the counties of Sussex and Surrey (excluding Spelthorne, which is ...

. *2018 - Father Peter Michael Ryan, *2019 – Father Philip G. Bochanski, Helen McConnell, Philip J. Miraglia, Louise M. Sullivan, 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 *2020 –

Emile Wijntuin Emile Linus Alfred Wijntuin (22 September 1924 – 7 May 2020) was a Surinamese politician who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname from 1975 until the aftermath of the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état. Wijntuin was a member of t ...

, former Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname. *2021 – Deirdre Leach MBE, Rev. Peter E. Sousa, CSsR,

Rafael Manzano Martos Rafael Manzano Martos (born in Cádiz, Spain on November 6, 1936) is a Spanish architect. He was educated at the Superior Technical School of Architecture in Madrid. He was a disciple of Professors Manuel Gómez-Moreno Martínez, Leopoldo Torr ...

Manoj Durairaj Dr Manoj Durairaj is an Indian heart transplant surgeon, based in Pune. He was awarded “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” in November 2021. He has been working as Director, Marian Cardiac Centre and Research Foundation, Pune, India, the firsts hea ...

*2022 – Pura Perla Sumangil *2022 - John Bernard Flynn, Pat Kennedy Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Notes

References

External links

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. * P.M.J. Rock
Pontifical Decorations
In: ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', New York: Robert Appleton Company, Vol. 4 1908.
Ehrenzeichen (auch als ""Ehrenkreuz"" bezeichnet) "Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice"
in: kuenker.de {{Papal orders, decorations, and medals Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See Awards established in 1888 1888 establishments in Vatican City