CONSTITUTIONAL lawyers are apparently not known for being speechless, but that was exactly how Greg Craven felt when he received a papal knighthood.
The Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor said he was “lured into” a work function that happened to coincide with his surprise knighthood into the ancient papal Order of St Gregory the Great.
“When it was presented to me, it was a complete surprise,” Professor Craven said.
Bishops or papal nuncios typically make recommendations for knights or dames of the Order of St Gregory the Great.
In Professor Craven’s case, he had only Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher to blame for the surprise honour.
“Archbishop Fisher mentioned me and began saying some rather nice comments about me … and then he produced a box,” Professor Craven said.
Inside the box was a glistening medal suggesting the work function would be slightly modified into an official knightly installation of a Knight Grand Cross.
Professor Craven is the only the seventh Australian to receive this papal honour, which has former Governor General Peter Cosgrove on the list.
“It was astonishing, very strange, and humbling,” Professor Craven said.
“I felt I did not deserve it.
“Being a constitution lawyer, I am not known for being speechless but I certainly was at the time.”
The long-serving tertiary leader said the knighthood capped off an “extraordinary” milestone year for the national university.
“I had great satisfaction as it marks the progress of ACU,” Professor Craven said.
“For our 25th anniversary we opened a campus in Rome, and the Commonwealth did an assessment on Australian universities in research and we were rated world class or above in every area we specialise in.
“I believe should be a matter of great pride for Catholics.
“As I said during my installation, the knighthood was capping off what’s been an extraordinary year for ACU.”
Archbishop Fisher said Professor Craven was “an immensely gifted man, a man of faith, a loyal son of Christ; a distinguished exemplar of Vatican II’s teaching about role of Catholic laity in the world”.
Professor Craven said being installed by Archbishop Fisher was great honour, as the pair had previously worked together when the Dominican friar was a lecturer at ACU.
“That meant a lot to me,” Professor Craven said.
He also thought of his deceased mother and great, great, great grandfather, a Irishman who spoke no English, and started the Craven line in Australia after being given a piece of paper with the name ‘Timothy Craven”.
Professor Craven received the traditional “very pretty green” and “hilarious” uniform, cocked hat, a sword and the right to ride a horse in the Vatican.
“I spoke with Peter Cosgrove and he said he has not yet taken up that right, and I’m not sure if I will either,” he said.
He is still waiting for an official parchment from Pope Francis, which the vice-chancellor believed was moving from one ACU campus to another.
By Emilie Ng
