Order of Malta

Pope Francis awarded the oldest honor granted by the Apostolic Holy See to lay persons, to Dániel Solymári CGM, head of international relations of the Hungarian Charity Service of Malta. The Knight's Cross of the Order of Saint Sylvester was presented by Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate, and Syrian Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi, in the Primate's Palace in Budapest on March 17.

 

With this award, Pope Francis recognized Dániel Solymári's outstanding work on behalf of the international relations of the Holy Father and the Holy See, especially his achievements in the field of international aid and humanitarian diplomacy.

 

The Knight's Cross of the Order of Saint Sylvester is a state award of the Holy See, awarded directly by the Pope. This is the oldest award of the Holy Apostolic See that can be given to lay persons, and it is granted by the Holy Father in recognition of the service performed for the Church and its international relations. Founded in its first form by Pope Saint Sylvester II under the name Order of the Golden Spur, it was revived in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI as the Order of St. Sylvester: its members were titled Counts of the Lateran Court. Its current form was created in 1905 by Pope Saint Pius X.

 

The Knight's Cross of the Order of St. Sylvester, as a papal insignia, is one of the most infrequently granted awards. According to the documents available since 1945, fewer than ten Hungarians have received it, among whom Dániel Solymári is the youngest, at age 40. The presentation of the papal award, which took place on March 17, was timed to prepare for the upcoming apostolic journey of Pope Francis to Hungary.

 

Source: Magyar Kurír

Photo: Bence Kovács / Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta