What is a Papal countess? Not to sound snide or rude..isn't it just some rich gal that donates cash to the church. Or is it truly a person who helps the needed with her money.

What exactly does this have to do with faith?

-- susan rial (susanlatte@aol.com), October 27, 2003

Answers

The title can be conferred for various kinds of distinguished service to the Church, but more often than not it is something of a philanthropic nature. The late President John F. Kennedy's mother, Rose Kennedy, held the title, and his Father was given the male equivalent - some kind of Knight, I forget the exact title. Anything that strengthens the Church's resources has to do with faith. Spreading the faith is the principle mission of the Church, and it costs a great deal to do it.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), October 27, 2003.

Ok..so how does one spread the faith and get this title?

Who else has been titled? CAn an average person get this title?

Susan

-- susan (susanlatte@aol.com), October 28, 2003.

They are honorary titles and are bestowed as gifts from the Pope.

Similar to the Queeen of England "knighting" someone.

A Pope could bestow this to anyone he wishes.

God bless

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), October 28, 2003.

ARe there any recent Papal Countesses? Who are they and what have they done for the CAtholic Church?

Will there be any media coverage of this and when does this occur?

-- susan (susanlatte@aol.com), October 28, 2003.

The names of several papal countesses can be found on the Internet. I couldn't find any more recent that Rose Kennedy and a Mrs. Donohue (after 1957). The title must be conferred rarely. I found this -----

Britain's queen gives gifts (knighthoods) to those whom she wishes to honor and also on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Order of the Garter is the most famous and most coveted Order of Knighthood. Others that rank next to it are the Order of the Thistle (the Scottish equivalent to the Order of the Garter) and the Order of Bath (Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush and Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George S. Patton have received this award).

Similarly, the Catholic Church bestows the same kind of gifts through Pontifical Orders of Knighthood and Orders of Merit, besides countless Cross and Medals. Pontifical Orders of Knighthood are in the personal gift of the Pope. The Kennedy family received several such titles of recognition. "When Joseph P. Kennedy attended Pius XII's coronation in early 1939 he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX, which still conferred hereditary nobility by male primogeniture on its grantee and his successors." That same Pope created his wife, Rose, "a papal countess." When John Kennedy Jr. died last year, the hereditary noble rank inherited from his grandfather in 1969.

-- (papal@countess.com), November 01, 2003.