Signum Sacri Itineris Hierosolymitani

Signum Sacri Itineris Hierosolymitani
Obverse of the medal
Awarded by His Holiness the Pope.
Country	Vatican City
Type	Three degree medal (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
Eligibility	Practicing Roman Catholics
Awarded for	Merit
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	2 May 1901
Precedence
Next (higher)	Benemerenti medal
Related	Papal Lateran Cross
Ribbon of the medal

The Jerusalem Pilgrim's Cross (Latin: Signum Sacri Itineris Hierosolymitani) is an honour awarded by the Pope as a recognition of merit to pilgrims to the Holy Land.

The medal is never sent and can only be conferred at the office of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, belonging to the Franciscan order. He presents it in the name of the Sovereign Pontiff.

The decoration is worn on the left side of the chest. It may not be worn except in religious solemnities, processions or pilgrimages, or in the presence of the Pope.

The Signum Sacri Itineris Hierosolymitani was established by Pope Leo XIII on 2 May 1901 to honour and to endorse pilgrimage to the Holy Places of Christianity in Palestine.

A certificate from a parish pastor was originally needed attest to the morality of the candidate and affirm that there was a pious motive to undertake the voyage. As of 2015, a certificate is no longer needed. The medal is never sent and can only be conferred at the office of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, belonging to the Franciscan order. He presents it in the name of the Sovereign Pontiff.

The medal is a Jerusalem cross in gold, silver or bronze. The centre of the front is a small depiction of Pope Leo XIII with the surrounding Latin inscription LEO XIII CREAVIT ANNO MCM (Leo XIII created [this medal] in 1900). In the crossbars, there are four biblical scenes showing the early life and the ministry of Jesus with the inscription CHRISTI AMOR CRUCIFIXI TRAXIT NOS (Christ's love attracted us):