The Order of St. Sylvester is one of the highest honours that the Pope can bestow on a lay person (someone who is not ordained as a deacon, priest, or bishop) in the Catholic Church.
Its full name is the Order of Saint Sylvester, and it is awarded by the Holy Father to recognise outstanding service to the Church, particularly in professional life, public service, the arts, education, business, or other areas where a person has given exceptional witness to Christian values. The order is named after Pope Sylvester I, who was Pope from AD 314 to 335 during the time of the Emperor Constantine and the early growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Recipients are often: Faithful Catholic lay men and women. People who have given many years of distinguished service to the Church. Individuals whose professional work has brought honour to the Church or benefited society in a significant way.
Those honoured are invested as members of the Order and receive: A papal certificate signed in the Pope’s name. The insignia (medal and ribbon) of the Order. The title of Knight or Dame of the Order, depending on the class awarded. It is relatively rare and is considered a very prestigious papal honour. Nominations are usually made through a diocesan bishop and then submitted to the Holy See for approval. In the United Kingdom, recipients are often long-serving Catholics who have made exceptional contributions to their parish, diocese, Catholic education, charitable works, or public life. Colette Sharp
