The Vatican clarifies its position on “chivalric orders”: it does not recognize the value of their diplomas and insignia, nor does it consider it appropriate to use churches for investiture ceremonies

(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.10.2026).- Following numerous requests for information regarding the Holy See’s position on chivalric  orders dedicated to saints or bearing sacred titles, the Secretariat of State deems it appropriate to  reiterate what has been published in the past.

In addition to its own chivalric orders (the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden  Spur, the Pian Order/Order of Pope Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, and the Order of  Saint Sylvester the Pope), the Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Order  of Malta (that is, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes  and of Malta) and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. It does not intend to  change this policy.

All other equestrian orders, whether newly established or claiming descent from medieval  orders, are not recognized by the Holy See, since the Holy See cannot vouch for their historical and  juridical legitimacy, their purposes or their organizational structures.

To avoid misunderstandings that are unfortunately possible due in part to the unlawful  issuance of documents and the improper use of sacred places, and to prevent the continuation of  abuses that ultimately harm many people acting in good faith, the Holy See reaffirms that it attaches  no value to knighthood diplomas and related insignia issued by unrecognized organizations and  does not consider the use of churches and chapels for so-called “investiture ceremonies” to be  appropriate.

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