SIGNAL HONOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 8

SIGNAL HONOUR.

Pope Confers Golden Spur On Count Ciano.

ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER

(Uecelvod 2 p.m.) ROM K, December 27. The Pope has conferred oil Count Oiano, Italian Foreign Minister, and son-in-law of Hignor Mussolini, t lie highest Papal decorntiou, the Golden Spur. Tho Order of the Golden Spur, or as it is sometimes known The Golden Militia, has ancient origins. Pope Pius X., in commemoration of the high prestige, to which this order had attained long years before it was absorbed into the Gregorian Order of St. Sylvester, and as a souvenir of tho golden jubilee of tho dogmatic definition of the Immacu-j late Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, gavo back to it the separate existence, name and grade of ancient days' and rendered it still' lhoro illnstrious by placing it under the patronage of tho Immaculate Conception, says a Catholic work of reference. To this order aro to be admitted only those who have distinguished themselves in an eminent degree and either by feat of arms or by their writings or by any other conspicuous work, have spread the Catholic faith, and by their work have safeguarded or by their, learning made illustrious tho Church ..of God. The order is limited to, one class and 100 knights. It can Iwf conferred, on those already knighted', in ilj&C highest orders and also on t"ioso upon, whom no distinction lias ibecn cojifiji^i'cL.