The decision to confer the honor on Father Joaquín Alliende, 70, was made earlier this year by Pope John Paul II.

The charity's president, Hans-Peter Röthlin, said of today's conferral of the Cross "for the Church and the Pontiff": "For a long time, Father Alliende supported the Church in Latin America in word and deed.

"As a member priest of the Schoenstatt Movement and international ecclesiastical assistant, he has been helping our charity for decades -- in a pioneering position -- to implement the charisma of our founder, Father Werenfried van Straaten, in creative fidelity."

Father Alliende, a Chilean, was ratified in his post last week at the general assembly of Aid to the Church in Need.