Pope Bestows Order of St. Gregory the Great Knighthood on Three Distinguished Chicago Catholics

featuring James A Serritella

On June 23, Francis Cardinal George presented a Papal Decree from Pope Benedict XVI appointing three distinguished members of the Chicago Catholic community to knighthood in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great. The newly appointed Knights of St. Gregory are the firm’s Jim Serritella; Jimmy Lago, Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Chicago; and James Denney, business leader and special advisor to the Archdiocese of Chicago. The ceremony at St. James Chapel in Chicago included a prayer service by Cardinal George and a formal induction to the Order. The recipients’ families, friends and colleagues were present to share the occasion. 

The Knights of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established in 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI and is the highest honor to a lay person awarded by the Pope. It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See. This Order is bestowed on Catholic men and women in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and the Church, unusual labors, and the good example they set in their communities and country. Past recipients include G. K. Chesterton, British essayist, poet, novelist, and historian; Bob and Dolores Hope, American philanthropists and entertainers; Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics; Roy E. Disney, longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company; and Riccardo Muti, conductor and music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.