Established in 1319, The Supreme Order of Christ is the highest papal order of knighthood awarded by the Pope. This prestigious honor recognizes exceptional service to the Church and is traditionally bestowed upon Catholic heads of state. The order’s origins are linked to the medieval Order of Christ, which was associated with the Knights Templar and later the kings of Portugal.

In 1905, Pope Pius X restructured papal honors, making The Supreme Order of Christ the most senior papal honor. The order’s usage was significantly restricted by Pope Paul VI in his 1966 Papal Bull Equestres Ordinis, limiting its conferral to Catholic heads of state on very special occasions where the Pope himself was present. This restriction has led to the order being rarely awarded in modern times.

The last public award of The Supreme Order of Christ was made by Pope John Paul II in 1987 to Frà Angelo de Mojana, the 77th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Following the death of King Baudouin of Belgium in 1993, there are no living members of the order who were publicly awarded. However, it is possible that some individuals may have been awarded the order privately, although there are no official records to confirm this. The Supreme Order of Christ holds a unique place in ecclesiastical heraldry, where individuals awarded this order may depict a collar completely encircling the shield on their coat of arms.

Despite its dormancy, the order remains a symbol of the highest honor and recognition within the Catholic Church.

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