Brother Vincent receives Cross of Honor from the Vatican

In recognition of his distinguished services at Bethlehem University, Brother Vincent Malham, F.S.C., President of Christian Brothers University, and former President and Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University (from 1996 to 2005) was awarded the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal at the Vatican in Rome on June 23, 2007 , by His Eminence Cardinal Moussa Daoud, Prefect of the Congregation of Eastern Churches, in the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The English translation of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is "For Church and Pope," and the award is also known as the "Cross of Honor." The medal was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally conferred on those women and men who had aided and promoted the jubilee. It is currently awarded to lay people and clergy for meritorious service to the church. It is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the Papacy.