In the past, this design of the cross was often used in ecclesiastical heraldry, as a distinctive mark of the Popes office. It has three horizontal bars near the top, in diminishing order of length as the top is approached. It is thus analogous to the two-barred cross used in heraldry to indicate an archbishop, and seems to have been used precisely to indicate an ecclesiastical rank still higher than that of archbishop.

Symbolism connected with the papal powers have been attached to the three crossbars, similar to the symbolism attached, with greater historical foundation, to the three bands on the papal tiara. The crossbars have also been said to represent the three crosses on Calvary. In 1983 and 2000, John Paul II used the traditional Papal Cross with three horizontal bars in opening of Holy Door during Jubilee year

The Cross of Lorraine is a heraldic cross. The "double cross" consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. The lower bar is as close to the bottom of the vertical as the upper is to the top. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is displayed as "graded", where the lower bar is longer than the upper, thus resembling a patriarchal cross, the crossbars of which, however, are both near the top.

The Cross of Lorraine is part is part of the heraldic arms of Lorraine in Eastern France. It was originally held to be a symbol of Joan of Arc, renowned for her perserverance against foreign invaders of France. The Lorraine Cross was carried to the Crusades by the original Knights Templar, granted to them for their use by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.