Papal Knighthood For Bob Hope

Bob Hope and his wife Dolores have been awarded papal knighthoods.

"You just name it, and they've always been willing to step forward and share their gifts, their lives, with everyone," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, who bestowed the honors Wednesday at St. Charles Borromeo Church, just a few blocks from the couple's Toluca Lake home.

During the private ceremony, Hope was invested as knight commander with the star designation and his wife, Dolores, as dame with star in the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Pope John Paul II bestows papal knighthoods on those of unblemished character who have promoted the interests of humanity, the Catholic Church and the Holy See, said the Rev. Gregory Coiro, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

"I think it's a great honor," daughter Linda Hope said. "I think good deeds and good work transcend any particular religious group."

Hope, a non-Catholic, and his wife, who is Catholic, were to have been invested in January along with news magnate Rupert Murdoch, actor Ricardo Montalban and about 60 others. But the couple was unable to attend.

Hope, 95, and his wife, 89, were blessed with many great talents and have shared their many gifts with all those around them, Mahony said. From altars, shrines and even the very chapel in which they received their papal honors, the couple's contributions have influenced church life, he said during the ceremony.

Hope smiled but did not speak.

Mrs. Hope is one of only four women in the world who have been named dames of St. Gregory with the star designation. Her husband is one of seven men in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to receive comparable honor.