Pais honoured with Order of St Gregory
News: TOI
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Mangalore, Apr 5: Clarence Pais lived up to the rich family tradition of being decorated with the Order of St Gregory, one of the five Pontifical orders of Knighthood. The investiture ceremony was held at Milagres Church on Friday.
Clarence’s grand uncle received the Order in 1928, uncle in 1048, father in 1952 and cousin’s husband in 1966.
A thanksgiving Mass was also held for Clarence Pais, whose 80th birthday falls on Friday. Mangalore Bishop Rev Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza handed over the knight’s outfit to Clarence Pais, which he wore later.
The programme was attended by Pais’ close friend and former defence minister George Fernandes. The knighthood was conferred by Pope Benedict XVI on November 15, 2007.
Speaking at the programme, the Bishop of Mangalore praised the service of Pais, especially in amending the Indian Succession Act which earned the Order for him. Receiving the investiture, Pais thanked the Pope and also the Bishop who had recommended his name.
He also thanked the great support of his long-time friend George Fernandes who was present, and also then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who helped in bringing an amendment to the Indian Succession Act, and thereby helped the Christian and Parsi communities in the country.
“I believe George Fernandes deserves a higher honour than which is conferred on me, like Knight Commander,” he said.
The Pontificial Equestrian Order of St Gregory the Great, one of the five Pontificial orders of Knighthood, was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, to reward the civil and military virtues of subjects of the Papal States by the brief quod summis.