Papal cross Papal cross The papal cross is a Christian cross, which serves as an emblem for the office of the Pope in ecclesiastical heraldry. It is depicted as a staff with three horizontal bars near the top, in diminishing order of length as the top is approached. The cross is thus analogous to the two-barred archiepiscopal cross used in heraldry to indicate an archbishop, and seems to have been used precisely to indicate an ecclesiastical rank still higher than that of archbishop. In the past, this design of the cross was often used in ecclesiastical heraldry as a distinctive mark of
Papal Lateran Cross (The sacred and holy church of the Lateran - the mother and the head of all of the churches of the city and the world). The medal has been crafted in a number of designs: with or without an adjoining circle, as well as a solid medal with a cross in relief. The accompanying ribbon is red with blue stripes along the sides. Notable individuals who received this honor include: Papal Lateran Cross The Papal Lateran Cross () is a medal for recognition of merit bestowed by the Holy See. The Lateran Cross was commissioned by Pope Leo XIII, and