Congratulations to Virginia Catholic Conference Executive Director Jeff Caruso and the other honorees!

Pope Leo XIV Bestows Papal Honors
on 50 Members of the Diocese of Arlington

Congratulations to VCC Executive Director, Jeff Caruso, who has received the Papal Honor of Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice!

From the Diocese of Arlington:

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 were formally conferred in a private ceremony by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.

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.

Read more at the announcement from the Diocese of Arlington.

Read more about the other honorees in the Arlington Catholic Herald.

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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.