October 16, 2012: The Holy See clarified on Tuesday that ‘in addition to its
Equestrian Orders (Supreme Order of Christ, Order of the Golden Spur, Order Plan,
Order of St. Gregory the Great, and Order of Pope Saint Sylvester), it recognizes
and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta-or Sovereign military Hospitaller
Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta-and the Equestrian Order of
the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and it does not intend to innovate in this regard.
All
other orders are not recognized by the Holy See, not being able to make this guarantee
of their historical and legal legitimacy, their objectives and their organizational
systems, noted the Press release. To avoid doubt, the Holy See confirmed not to
allocate any value of the diplomas of chivalry and its signs that are issued by associations
not recognized and does not consider it appropriate to use the churches and chapels
for the so-called "ceremonies of investiture."