Papal Lateran Cross
Encyclopedia
The Papal Lateran Cross is a medal for recognition of merit bestowed by the Holy See
.
).
The decoration consists of a Greek cross displaying the image of St. John the Evangelist on the right, St. John the Baptist on the left, St. Peter at top, and St. Paul at the bottom. Christ the Redeemer
is displayed at the center of the cross. The reverse side of the cross is engraved with the names, in Latin
, of each saint depicted (Joanes, Batis, Petrus, Paulus), as well as the symbol of Christ (P and X inside a circle).
A button located above the cross is inscribed with the phrase: "Sacrosancta lateranensis ecclesia - omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput" ("The sacred and holy church of the Lateran - the mother and the head of all of the churches of the city and the world").
The medal has been crafted in a number of designs: with or without an adjoining circle, as well as a solid medal with a cross in relief. The accompanying ribbon is red with blue stripes along the sides.
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Overview
The Papal Lateran Cross was commissioned by Pope Leo XIII, and instituted on February 18, 1903. The distinction was created as a recognititon of merit, and is named in honor of the Basilica of St. John in Lateran (RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
).
The decoration consists of a Greek cross displaying the image of St. John the Evangelist on the right, St. John the Baptist on the left, St. Peter at top, and St. Paul at the bottom. Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor may refer to:* Sculpture:** Christ the Redeemer , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil** Christ the Redeemer of the Andes, on Argentine-Chilean border** Cristo della Minerva by Michelangelo, in Rome...
is displayed at the center of the cross. The reverse side of the cross is engraved with the names, in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, of each saint depicted (Joanes, Batis, Petrus, Paulus), as well as the symbol of Christ (P and X inside a circle).
A button located above the cross is inscribed with the phrase: "Sacrosancta lateranensis ecclesia - omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput" ("The sacred and holy church of the Lateran - the mother and the head of all of the churches of the city and the world").
The medal has been crafted in a number of designs: with or without an adjoining circle, as well as a solid medal with a cross in relief. The accompanying ribbon is red with blue stripes along the sides.
Recipients
Notable individuals who received this honor include:- Max Corvo (United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - William Joseph DonovanWilliam Joseph DonovanWilliam Joseph Donovan was a United States soldier, lawyer and intelligence officer, best remembered as the wartime head of the Office of Strategic Services...
(United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - Ricardo Lancaster-Jones y VereaRicardo Lancaster-Jones y VereaRicardo Lancaster-Jones y Verea, MA BE KHS was a Mexican historian, diplomat, scholar, professor, art collector and sugarcane entrepreneur who made significant contributions toward the study of the haciendas of the State of Jalisco in the twentieth century.He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the...
(MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) - Wolfgang Mayer-König (AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) - Constancio C. VigilConstancio C. VigilConstancio Cecilio Vigil was a Uruguayan-Argentine writer and prominent publisher.-Life and times:Constancio Vigil was born in Rocha, Uruguay, in 1876. His father, a local politician, was forced to relocate to the nation's capital, Montevideo, following a political dispute...
(ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
)