The Catholic Diocese of Arlington rejoices that our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has bestowed Papal Honors on 50 members of the diocesan faithful, concluding our 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee. The Papal Honors, to be formally conferred in a private ceremony by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge at a later date, consist of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and the Benemerenti Medal.

Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For the Church and the Pontiff” in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See.  It is conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy.

The Cross was established by Leo XIII on 17 July 1888 to commemorate his golden jubilee as a priest and was originally bestowed on the men and women who had aided and promoted the jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful. In 1898, it became a permanent papal distinction.

Honorees

  1. Deacon Albert A. Anderson, Jr.
  2. Beverly Anderson
  3. Jeffrey F. Caruso
  4. Mary Rice Hasson
  5. Timothy T. O’Donnell
  6. Katherine Pryor
  7. Stephen Pryor
  8. Victor Sellier
  9. Wendela (Wendy) Sellier
  10. Robert Smith

Benemerenti Medal

The Benemerenti Medal (“To one who is well-deserving” in Latin) is a medal awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established by Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, this medal has been awarded since 1925 as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Catholic Church, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike.

Honorees

  1. Leopoldo Alonso
  2. Laura Bell
  3. Thomas Bell
  4. Arthur Bennett
  5. Therese Bermpohl
  6. Dawn Beutner
  7. Kevin Bohli
  8. Bertha Braddock
  9. Anne Carroll
  10. Laura Coleman
  11. David Conroy, Jr.
  12. Timothy Cotnoir
  13. Gerard Cousin
  14. Sandra Dominick
  15. Samuel Dominick
  16. Sister Patricia Helene Earl, I.H.M.
  17. Louise Fecanin
  18. Peter Fecanin
  19. Daisy Finney
  20. Edwin Finney
  21. Joseph Guiffre
  22. Marierose Hoang
  23. Alan Holmer
  24. Moon Kim
  25. James McDaniel
  26. Sister Donatella Merulla, A.R.
  27. Thanh Nguyen
  28. Toni Papp
  29. Mary Petrino
  30. Teresa Reyes
  31. Ronald Riggins
  32. Daniel Riordan
  33. Mary Beth Riordan
  34. Morena Guzman Rodriguez
  35. Rolando Rodriguez
  36. Joel Sandoval
  37. Robert Tessier
  38. Julie Theobald
  39. Sister Mary Attilia Todaro, A.R.
  40. Kathleen Wilson