Replies

Rank	Honor/Designation	Description	Availability/Conditions	Examples/Notes
1 (Highest)	Inclusion in the Roman Martyrology as a Martyr	Official recognition of martyrdom in the Church's liturgical calendar of saints and martyrs, allowing for commemoration in the liturgy. This is a profound statement on shared witness to Christ.	Rare; applies to non-Catholics who died for the faith, often in ecumenical contexts. Decided by the Pope.	In 2023, Pope Francis added 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians martyred by ISIS in 2015 to the Roman Martyrology, marking a historic inclusion of non-Catholics.
2	Ecclesiastical Funeral Rites (Catholic Funeral Liturgy)	A full Catholic funeral, including Mass, may be celebrated for the deceased.	Permitted if the non-Catholic's own minister is unavailable, or if they were a catechumen (studying to become Catholic); also for unbaptized children of Catholic parents or spouses of Catholics. Local bishop's approval may be needed.	Common for interfaith families; canon law allows this for baptized non-Catholics under specific conditions.
3	Memorial or Requiem Masses	Masses offered for the repose of the soul, entrusting them to God's mercy.	No restrictions; any priest can apply a Mass intention to a deceased non-Catholic.	Encouraged as a way to pray for their eternal rest; multiple Masses can be requested.
4	Burial in a Catholic Cemetery	Interment in consecrated ground, often alongside Catholic family members.	Generally allowed; no canon law prohibition. Local cemetery rules apply, but it's common for non-Catholic spouses or family.	Provides a sacred resting place; no formal rite required beyond standard burial.
5 (Lowest)	Prayers and Commemorations by the Faithful	Private or communal prayers for the soul, including novenas, rosaries, or applying indulgences gained by Catholics to the deceased.	Universally available; Catholics are encouraged to pray for all the dead, regardless of faith.	No formal process; based on the belief in God's mercy and the possibility of salvation outside visible Church membership.

Posthumous Honors Available to Non-Catholics from the Catholic Church
Rank Honor/Designation Description Availability/Conditions Examples/Notes
1 (Highest) Inclusion in the Roman Martyrology as a Martyr Official recognition of martyrdom in the Church's liturgical calendar of saints and martyrs, allowing for commemoration in the liturgy. This is a profound statement on shared witness to Christ. Rare; applies to non-Catholics who died for the faith, often in ecumenical contexts. Decided by the Pope. In 2023, Pope Francis added 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians martyred by ISIS in 2015 to the Roman Martyrology, marking a historic inclusion of non-Catholics.
2 Ecclesiastical Funeral Rites (Catholic Funeral Liturgy) A full Catholic funeral, including Mass, may be celebrated for the deceased. Permitted if the non-Catholic's own minister is unavailable, or if they were a catechumen (studying to become Catholic); also for unbaptized children of Catholic parents or spouses of Catholics. Local bishop's approval may be needed. Common for interfaith families; canon law allows this for baptized non-Catholics under specific conditions.
3 Memorial or Requiem Masses Masses offered for the repose of the soul, entrusting them to God's mercy. No restrictions; any priest can apply a Mass intention to a deceased non-Catholic. Encouraged as a way to pray for their eternal rest; multiple Masses can be requested.
4 Burial in a Catholic Cemetery Interment in consecrated ground, often alongside Catholic family members. Generally allowed; no canon law prohibition. Local cemetery rules apply, but it's common for non-Catholic spouses or family. Provides a sacred resting place; no formal rite required beyond standard burial.
5 (Lowest) Prayers and Commemorations by the Faithful Private or communal prayers for the soul, including novenas, rosaries, or applying indulgences gained by Catholics to the deceased. Universally available; Catholics are encouraged to pray for all the dead, regardless of faith. No formal process; based on the belief in God's mercy and the possibility of salvation outside visible Church membership.

Note: Papal medals, orders, or knighthoods (e.g., Order of Pope Pius IX, Benemerenti Medal) can be awarded to non-Catholics during their lifetime for service to the Church or humanity, but they are not typically conferred posthumously, as such honors expire with the recipient. Other informal recognitions, like papal statements praising the deceased, may occur but are not standardized "awards." The Church's assignees (e.g., dioceses, religious orders) follow similar guidelines, aligned with canon law.