In recognition to his service to the Church and society, Pope Francis honored Bob Fitzsimmons by naming him a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great. Bob was nominated for the honor by the Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
Papal Equestrians Order of Saint Gregory the Great was founded on September 1st, 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI to honor and reward the Italians and Austrians
who restored the Pope’s political power after the catastrophic events
of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic invasions. In the words of
Pope Gregory XVI, The Papal Equestrians Order of Saint Gregory the Great
was bestowed upon “gentlemen of proven loyalty to the Holy See who,
by reason of their nobility of birth and the renown of their deeds or
the degree of their munificence, are deemed worthy to be honoured by a
public expression of esteem on the part of the Holy See.” Later
in 1905, Pope Pius X reformed all the Pontifical Orders of Knighthood
in the Apostolic letter “Multum ad excitandos.” He appointed
the Cardinal Secretary of the State of the Vatican as the Grand Chancellor
of all Pontifical Orders and established a Chancery to oversee the uniforms
of the members of each of the various Orders. Pope Pius X also divided
the Order of Saint Gregory the Great into two divisions: civil and military.
Under each division of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, a member
may be a Knight or Dame Grand Cross, a Knight or Dame Commander with Star,
A Knight or Dame Commander, or a Knight or Dame.