Pictured: The Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, being received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in June 2026.

 

The Holy See’s Secretariat of State has issued a clarification reaffirming the Catholic Church’s position on the recognition of chivalric orders, confirming that its existing policy remains unchanged.

The statement confirms that, in addition to its own chivalric orders, the Holy See recognises and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

All other orders, whether newly established or claiming descent from medieval orders, are not recognised by the Holy See, which states that it cannot vouch for their historical and juridical legitimacy, their purposes or their organisational structures.

The clarification further emphasises that the Holy See attaches no value to knighthood diplomas and associated insignia issued by unrecognised organisations. It also states that the use of churches and chapels for so-called investiture ceremonies conducted by such organisations is not considered appropriate.

The statement reaffirms the recognised standing of the Order of Malta within the Holy See’s established policy on chivalric orders.

Read the full text published on the Vatican website 

Identifying False Orders

The Order of Malta Australia encourages members of the public to exercise care when assessing claims made by organisations purporting to confer chivalric honours. Understanding the distinction between recognised orders and unrecognised organisations is important to protecting the integrity and historical significance of legitimate chivalric traditions.

For further information on verifying the authenticity of chivalric orders and identifying false orders, please visit the Order of Malta Australia’s dedicated resource:

False Orders: How to Identify and Verify Chivalric Orders

The Holy See’s clarification reinforces the importance of relying on authoritative sources when determining the recognition and legitimacy of organisations claiming a chivalric status.