The Benemerenti medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and is conferred on those who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community. It has the word benemerenti (to a well deserving person) on its face, surrounded by a crown of oak leaves; the ribbon is made of Papal colors.
Recipients
- Pope Pius XII awarded Maria Augusta von Trapp 1949 the Benemerenti Medal as a recognition for the Trapp Family Austrian Relief Inc., which is an aid programm for depressed Austrians.
- Pope Paul VI awarded Catherine O'Brien the Benemerenti medal in 1974 for services to Saint Dominics Church and parish Romford, Essex.
- Pope Paul VI awarded Edward Flannery the medal.
- Pope Paul VI awarded Diana McKenzie the Benemerneti medal in 1978 in Lynn Lake, Manitoba for work with Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church
- Pope John Paul II awarded medal to Joeseph Lawrence Clery 1993 Papal Award MCMXC111 also past Grand Knight of Columbus
- Pope John Paul II awarded medal to Gerard O'Donnell formally of Bathgate, West Lothian when he retired as headmaster of a school in Leicester, in 1990, for his services to catholic education.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Patricia Vincent Stockley for Services to the Catholic Church, which was presented to her in front of her Grandson Brendon Wordsworth at St Thomas More Catholic Church Mt Maunganui New Zealand.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Catherine Ann Cline 1995 medal.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Rita Gray the medal for 'Services to Education'.
- Pope John Paul II awarded James J Coniglio 1999 medal.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Arthur Eden 2000 medal.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Mario Kreutzberger 2002 medal.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Richard Gladwell 2009 medal
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Charles John Foote of St. George's Newfoundland, the bene merenti medal for over 50 years service to the parish of St. Joseph's. Charles (b. February 12, 1914) resides in his own home with his wife, Winnifred (Reynolds) Foote, (b.1921) Charles was predeceased by his parents and one brother at the age of 18. He has seven children, Gerard (Melena), Stanley(Melene), Curtis, Charles (Glenda), Bruce (Beverly, deceased), Mary (Gerard), and Anne (Danny). The award was presented at St. Joseph's Church in St. George's on 03 May 2009 by Bishop Douglas Crosbie, Bishop of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador. Present at the mass was parish priest, Father Gerard Patry.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Michael Madden Cork Ireland 2008 medal in recognition of his outstanding service during his 23 years as sacristan of St. Joseph's Church, Riverstick, Cork. Ireland.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Paul Lyng 2009 medal in recognition of 33 years service as sacristan of Church of the Assumption in Booterstown, Co Dublin. It was presented by Mgr. Seamus Conway PP on May 29th, 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Joe Lomasney 2009 medal in recognition of 53 years service as sacristan of Church of the Immaculate Conception, Araglen in the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland. It was presented by Most Rev John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded John Parnell Murphy 2009 medal in recognition of long-time service to the People of God of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. It was presented on June 7, 2009 by Most Rev Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded medal to Barbara Conboy, Brigid Hanlon and John McManus for services to Sacred Heart Jesuit Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 31 July 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the 2009 medal to Ada Power, on the 13th of February for services to the Killaloe Diocese.
- Cardinal Thomas Winning presented the medal on behalf of Pope John Paul II to Mrs Brenda Scott ALCM in March, 2000.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Tony McAvoy for his work as a Lay Chaplain in the North East with the Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris). The medal was presented to him by Seamus Cunningham, Bishop of Newcastle and Hexham Diocese, on 8th July 2009 at the AoS Annual Pilgrimage to Holy Island, Lindisfarne.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Patrick Curran the 2009 medal in recognition of 60 years service to the parish of Our Lady Star of The Sea, Greenwich. It was presented by Bishop Patrick of Southwark on 4th October 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Tony Wagstaffe the 2009 medal in recognition of service to the parish of Holy Angels, Ash, Surrey Greenwich. It was presented by Father David Osbourne, on 12th December 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the 2009 medal to Joseph(Joe)Ryan for 30 years of service as Parish Accountant, plus other services, to St. Elphege's Church, Wallington, Surrey. The medal was presented by Bishop Paul Hendricks on 20 December 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Dennis Selina for a lifetime of service to the Church, including 69 years as church organist. The medal was presented on 10 January 2010 at St Joseph's Church, Pickering, by Fr Bill East.
- Olive Hewitt and Peggy Wilding both received the Benemerenti Medal in St. Theodores Church, Monkwick, Colchester on 27th April 2008.