In a small chapel their donations helped to build, legendary entertainer Bob Hope and his wife, Delores, were awarded papal knighthoods by Cardinal Roger Mahony.
Hope was invested as a knight commander with the star designation and Dolores as a dame with star in the Order of St. Gregory the Great."I think it's a great honor," said daughter Linda Hope, who was joined by her son, Andrew Lande, and her brother Kelly Hope at the ceremony in St. Charles Borromeo Church. "I think good deeds and good work transcend any particular religious group."
The Rev. Gregory Coiro, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said 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.
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.
Dolores 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.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Birthdays: For Thursday, June 11
Author William Styron 73
Actor Gene Wilder 63
Singer Wilma Burgess 59
Rocker Frank Beard 49
Football great Joe Montana 42
Actor Joshua Jackson 20