The Vatican Secretariat of State has confirmed that, alongside the five Pontifical Orders, only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem are recognised and protected by the Holy See.

The statement, published on 10 October 2026 in response to numerous requests for information, reiterates a position previously expressed over decades and clarifies that the Holy See has no intention of modifying its policy. The statement also stresses the need to avoid potential misunderstandings and prevent abuses that may harm people acting in good faith. In this regard, the Holy See specifies that it attaches no value to knighthood certificates and insignia issued by unrecognised organisations.

Other groups, whether newly established or claiming to derive from ancient medieval orders, are not recognised by the Holy See, which cannot vouch for their historical and legal legitimacy, their purposes, or their organisational structures.

The Holy See emphasizes that the use of churches and chapels for so-called investiture ceremonies by these groups is inappropriate.

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/10/0803/01494.html