Order pro Merito Melitensi

The Order of Merit (Ordine di Merito; Ordo pro Merito Melitensi) is the order of merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, established in 1920. It is awarded to recipients who have brought honour to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, promoted Christian values and for charity as defined by the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike Knights or Dames of the Order of Malta (which is a military order of chivalry), those decorated with the Order are not invested in a religious ceremony, do not swear any oath or make any religious commitment. It may therefore be bestowed upon non-Catholics. Conferees include prominent statesmen, such as Presidents Ronald Reagan, who received it while still in office, and George H. W. Bush.

The order comprises two ranks and six grades, including Commander, now rare in the Order of Malta, and has no nobiliary grades, thus being comparable to numerous orders of merit around the world, including the Papal orders, France's Order of National Merit and Britain's Order of the British Empire.

The medals are inscribed with the abbreviated Militaris Ordo Equitum Melitensum Bene Merenti, which translates roughly as Military Order Knight of Merit Well Deserved. By the medieval period both milites (from which derives the word militaris) and equites are terms for knights, even though the original distinction was foot soldiers and cavalry respectively.

Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi

 * OPMM-colX.svg Pro Merito Melitensi Collar – Military Class
 * OPMM-co.svg Pro Merito Melitensi Collar – Civilian Class
 * Single grade, usually bestowed to Heads of State only.

Military Class

 * OPMM-gcsX.svg Grand Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
 * OPMM-gcX.svg Grand Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-guX.svg Grand Officer Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-cX.svg Commander Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-uX.svg Officer Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * Ordine al merito melitense BAR.svg Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi

Civilian Class

 * OPMM-gcs.svg Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
 * OPMM-gc.svg Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-gu.svg Grand Officer Cross pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-c.svg Commander Cross pro Merito Melitensi
 * OPMM-u.svg Officer Cross pro Merito Melitensi
 * MelitenseMilitare.png Cross pro Merito Melitensi

Ecclesiastics Class

 * OPMM-gcr.svg Grand Cross pro Piis Meritis Melitensi
 * OPMM-r.svg Cross pro Piis Meritis Melitensi

Old style (1920–1960)

 * SMOM-meritAU.svg Gold Medal pro Merito Melitensi
 * SMOM-meritAG.svg Silver Medal pro Merito Melitensi
 * SMOM-meritBZ.svg Bronze Medal pro Merito Melitensi

Military Class

 * MOPMM-oX.svg Gold Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * MOPMM-aX.svg Silver Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi
 * MOPMM-bX.svg Bronze Medal with Swords pro Merito Melitensi

Civilian Class

 * MOPMM-o.svg Gold Medal pro Merito Melitensi
 * MOPMM-a.svg Silver Medal pro Merito Melitensi
 * MOPMM-b.svg Bronze Medal pro Merito Melitensi

Classes of the Order pro Merito Melitensi
The Order pro Merito Melitensi comprises the following classes:
 * Collar
 * Cross
 * Medal

The Collar pro Merito Melitensi
The Collar only has a single grade, but is separated into two divisions, namely "Collar pro Merito Melitensi" for Civilians and "Collar with Swords pro Merito Melitensi" for the Military. The Collar is only awarded to Heads of State.

The Cross pro Merito Melitensi
The Cross is bestowed upon both civilians and military personnel, comprising several grades:
 * Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi – Special Class
 * Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi
 * Grand Officer pro Merito Melitensi (with Badge for women)
 * Commander pro Merito Melitensi (with Crown for women)
 * Officer pro Merito Melitensi (with Coat of arms for women)
 * Cross pro Merito Melitensi

N.B: these decorations are "with Swords" for serving military and "without Swords" for civilians.

The Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi
When awarded to ecclesiastics, it has the same cross as awarded to civilians and military personnel. Nevertheless, this ribbon is black crossed with two thin red lines and comprises only two grades :
 * Grand Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi,
 * Cross "pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi.

The Medal pro Merito Melitensi
This class has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Ribbons
There are only three different types of ribbons for both the medal and the crosses.