Papal sword that knighted a Jew goes on display

By Bob Lerner

 

VALLEY CENTER, California — History was made in 1974 when, for true first time ever, the Pope conferred Knighthood on a person of the Jewish faith.  The man was Col. Irving Salomon of Valley Center, and the sword used in that knighting ceremony will be on display at the Valley Center History Museum starting Dec. 8.

The sword was commissioned following a Papal Order from Pope Paul VI to honor  Col. Salomon for distinguished and notable life achievement and for his support of humanitarian and philanthropic causes.  He was granted knighthood in the Order of Saint Gregory, established in 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI to honor citizens of papal states.  At the time, the knighting of a Jewish layman generated headlines across the nation.

A longtime Valley Center rancher, Col. Salomon was a diplomat in the United Nations and held Ambasssador status.  He died in 1979.  During his lifetime, he supported a broad range of ecumenical causes.  He was a benefactor and trustee of the University of San Diego, President of the Board for San Antonio de Pala Mission, as was active in multiple Jewish organizations.

The sword was donated to the museum by the estate of his daughter, the late Abbe Wolfsheimer Stutz, who cared for the historic item during the past four decades.  It will remain on permanent exhibition and become part of the museum’s extensive Salomon Archive which contains the papers, documents and memorabilia of Salomon’s career and personal life.

Col. Salomon’s life achievements were brought to the attention of the Pope in 1973 by Cardinal Sergio Pignedoli who was in San Diego for the Diocesan Pastoral Congress.

The History Museum at 29200 Cole Grade Road is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free.  For more information, visit vchistory.org or call (760) 749-2993.

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Lerner is an historian and archivist with the Valley Center History Museum