Supreme Order of Christ

Supreme Order of Christ
Ordine Supremo del Cristo
Star and badge of the Order of Christ
Awarded by the  Holy See
TypePapal order of knighthood
Established1319
EligibilityCatholic heads of state
Awarded forServices to the Church
StatusDormant order
Grand MasterPope Francis
GradesKnight
Precedence
Next (higher)None (highest); clerics, such as theologians, philosophers, or diplomats, can be named Cardinals or Bishops for meritorious services to the Pope and the Holy See, without being given an actual office
Next (lower)Order of the Golden Spur

Ribbon bar of the order

The Supreme Order of Christ (Italian: Ordine Supremo del Cristo) is the highest order of chivalry that can be awarded by the pope. No appointments have been made since 1987 and following the death in 1993 of the last remaining knight, King Baudouin of Belgium, the order became dormant.

According to some scholars, it owes its origin to the same Order of Christ of the Knights Templar, from which came the Order of Christ that was awarded by the kings of Portugal and the emperors of Brazil. The Portuguese order had originally both a secular and religious component; by the 18th century, the religious component had died out.