Order pro Merito Melitensi
Order pro Merito Melitensi | |
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![]() Cross of the order | |
Awarded by Sovereign Military Order of Malta | |
Type | Order of merit |
Established | 1920 |
Status | Currently constituted |
Grades | Collar Cross Medal |
The Order pro Merito Melitensi is the order of merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, established in 1920. It is awarded to recipients who have brought honour to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, promoted Christian values and for charity as defined by the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike Knights or Dames of the Order of Malta (which is a military order of chivalry), those decorated with the Order pro Merito Melitensi are not invested in a religious ceremony, do not swear any oath or make any religious commitment. It may therefore be bestowed upon non-Catholics. Conferees include prominent statesmen, such as Presidents Ronald Reagan, who received it while still in office, and George H.W. Bush.
The order comprises three ranks, including Commander, now rare in the Order of Malta, and has no nobiliary grades, thus being comparable to numerous orders of merit around the world, including the Papal orders, France's Legion of Honour and Britain's Order of the British Empire.
Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Commander pro Merito Melitensi neck decoration
Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi breast star
Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
Pro Merito Melitensi Collar – Military Class
Pro Merito Melitensi Collar – Civilian Class
- Single grade, usually bestowed to Heads of State only.
Cross of the Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
Military Class[]
Grand Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
Grand Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Grand Officer Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Commander Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Officer Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Civilian Class[]
Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Grand Officer Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Commander Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Officer Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Cross pro Merito Melitensi
Ecclesiastics Class[]
Grand Cross pro Piis Meritis Melitensi
Cross pro Piis Meritis Melitensi
Medal of the Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
Old style (1920–1960)[]
Gold Medal pro Merito Melitensi
Silver Medal pro Merito Melitensi
Bronze Medal pro Merito Melitensi
Military Class[]
Gold Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Silver Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Bronze Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
Civilian Class[]
Gold Medal pro Merito Melitensi
Silver Medal pro Merito Melitensi
Bronze Medal pro Merito Melitensi
The Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
Classes of the Order pro Merito Melitensi[]
The Order pro Merito Melitensi comprises the following classes:
The Collar pro Merito Melitensi[]
The Collar does only have one single grade, but it has instead two divisions, namely "Collar pro Merito Melitensi" for Civilians and "Collar with Swords pro Merito Melitensi" for the Military. The Collar is only awarded to Heads of State.
The Cross pro Merito Melitensi[]
The Cross is bestowed upon both civilians and military personnel, comprising several grades:
- Knight or Dame Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
- Knight or Dame Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi
- Knight or Dame Grand Officer pro Merito Melitensi (with Badge for women)
- Knight (or Dame) Commander pro Merito Melitensi (with Crown for women)
- Knight or Dame Officer pro Merito Melitensi (with Coat of arms for women)
- Cross (Knight or Dame) pro Merito Melitensi
N.B: these decorations are "with Swords" for serving military and "without Swords" for civilians.
The Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi[]
When awarded to ecclesiastics, it has the same cross as awarded to civilians and military personnel. Nevertheless, this ribbon is black crossed with two thin red lines and comprises only two grades :
- Grand Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi,
- Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi.
The Medal pro Merito Melitensi[]
This class has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Ribbons[]
There are only three different types of ribbons for both the medal and the crosses.
Cross of Merit, Ecclesiastical | Cross of Merit, Civil | Cross of Merit, Military |
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Ribbon | ||
Black ribbon with thin red stripes |
White ribbon with large red stripes |
Red ribbon with large white stripes |
See also[]
Further reading[]
- Orders of Knighthood, Awards and the Holy See, by H.E. Cardinale and Peter Bander-van Duren, 3rd ed. 1985
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of Merit pro Merito Melitensi. |
- Awards established in 1920
- 1920 establishments in Italy
- Orders of merit