The Order of Pope Pius IX (Italian: Ordine di Pio IX), also referred as the Pian Order (Italian: Ordine Piano), 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]
Order of Pope Pius IX Italian: Ordine di Papa Pio IX
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, often of noble birth, 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.
Pope Pius IV, founded the first Pian Order in 1560.
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 Piano 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
1893 artistic sketch of the medal
The Order comprises five classes:
Knight with the Collar: 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): 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][5] 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.
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:
^ abcRock, P.M.J. (1913). "Pontifical Decorations" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^ abHenneresse, 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. ISBN978-88-266-0241-7.
^"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.
^Michele D'Andrea, Fabio Cassani Pironti (2005). Vestire gli onori (in Italian). Roma: In.edit. pp. 106–109. ISBN88-89452-00-5.
^"King of Burundi Praised by Pope in Vatican Visit". The New York Times. 17 December 1962. p. 2.
^"President Anastasiades receives the highest honour of the Holy See". ΚΥΠΕ. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
^"Cronología de Marco Fidel Suárez | Centro de Historia de Bello".
External links
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The Order of Pope Pius IX Italian Ordine di Pio IX also referred as the Pian Order Italian Ordine Piano 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 Order of Pope Pius IXItalian Ordine di Papa Pio IXKnight s cross of the Order of Pius IXAwarded by Holy SeeTypePapal order of knighthoodEstablished1847MottoVIRTUTI ET MERITO Virtue and Merit 1 StatusCurrently constitutedSovereignPope FrancisGradesKnight with the CollarKnight Dame Grand Cross Knight Dame Grand OfficerKnight Dame CommanderKnight DamePrecedenceNext higher Order of the Golden SpurNext lower Order of St Gregory the GreatRibbon bar of the orderThe 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 often of noble birth 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 Contents 1 History of the Order 2 Order of Classes 3 Insignia and uniform 4 Notable members 4 1 Royal houses and nobility 4 2 Heads of State and Politicians 4 3 Diplomats to the Holy See 4 4 Other notable members 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory of the Order Edit Pope Pius IV founded the first Pian Order in 1560 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 Piano 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 1893 artistic sketch of the medal The Order comprises five classes Knight with the Collar 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 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 5 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 Pope Pius IX re instituted the Pian Order under his Papal name and pontificate in 1847 Knight Dame Knight Dame Commander Knight Dame Commander with Star Knight Dame Grand Cross Knight with the CollarInsignia and uniform EditThe 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 EditRoyal 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 Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia Mwambutsa IV King of Burundi 6 Gabriel Garcia Moreno y Moran de Butron former President of Ecuador with Collar Miles Stapleton Fitzalan Howard 17th Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal Premier Duke of England Count Herman van Rompuy former Prime minister of Belgium Count Charles de Broqueville former Prime minister of Belgium Count Paul de Smet de Naeyer former Prime minister of Belgium Count Charles Woeste Belgian Minister The Pian medal belonging to the 21st President of Brazil Juscelino Kubitschek unrestored and on display on his memorial Heads of State and Politicians Edit Nicos Anastasiades current President of Cyprus 7 Sergio Mattarella current President of Italy Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa current President of Portugal 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 Suarez former President of Colombia 8 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 Saitō Makoto former Prime Minister of Japan Wladyslaw Grabski former Prime Minister of Poland George Papandreou former Prime Minister of Greece Franz Von Papen former Vice Chancellor of Germany Juan Vicente Gomez former President of Venezuela Sukarno former President of Indonesia W T Cosgrave former Taoiseach of Ireland Larry Wang Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See wearing sash and star of the Order of Pius IX 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 Frank 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 Khetevane Bagration de Moukhrani former Georgian Ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and former Australian Ambassador to the Holy SeeOther 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 amp Supreme Knight of the Knights of ColumbusSee also EditPapal Orders of KnighthoodReferences Edit a b c Rock P M J 1913 Pontifical Decorations In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company a b Henneresse Dominique 2019 Ordres et Decorations du Saint Siege in French Citta 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 Citta del Vaticano LEV Libreria Editrice Vaticana p 1103 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 President Anastasiades receives the highest honour of the Holy See KYPE Retrieved 2022 11 04 Cronologia de Marco Fidel Suarez Centro de Historia de Bello External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of Pius IX Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain of Pius IX Saint Gregory and Saint Sylvester The Pontifical Order of Pius IX The Knights of Christ s Mercy Order of Pius IX National Association of Papal Honorees Roll of US Members of the Order of Pius IX Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Order of Pope Pius IX amp oldid 1129944209, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
