Hereditary officers of the Roman Curia
Encyclopedia
The Roman Court
or Papal Curia was reformed by the Bull
Pontificalis Domus
of 1969. This abolished the role of the old Roman nobility at the Papal Court with the exception of the position of Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne
. These titles (such as the Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice
, Marshal of the Sacred Conclave, etc.) are now purely honorary (though still hereditary).
This position had been shared jointly by the Princes Orsini and Colonna, but the former was deprived by Pius XII after obtaining a divorce
and the title was conferred upon Prince Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Canino and Musignano of the Torlonia
Family.
The Prince Assistants are representatives of the Roman nobility, who serve at the feet of the Throne immediately next to the Cardinal Deacon who stands to the right of the Pope. They alternate office during their lifetimes and no-one can substitute for them.
Their principal function is to serve on the occasion of official visits by a Head of state
.
The reforms of 1969 also changed the names and abolished the differing categories of Secret Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword to Gentlemen of His Holiness. Other offices were abolished altogether, but office holders were reassigned.
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
or Papal Curia was reformed by the Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Pontificalis Domus
Pontificalis Domus
The apostolic letter motu proprio Pontificalis Domus was issued by Pope Paul VI on March 28, 1968, in the fifth year of his pontificate. Its purpose was the reorganization of the Papal Household, which had been known as the Papal Court before the promulgation of the letter.-Introduction:Paul VI...
of 1969. This abolished the role of the old Roman nobility at the Papal Court with the exception of the position of Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne
Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne
The Princes Assistant to the Pontifical Throne are hereditary offices of the Roman Curia. They date from the early sixteenth century, and survived the reform of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household in 1968...
. These titles (such as the Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice
Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice
The Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice , or Quartermaster-General of the Sacred Palaces, is an hereditary official of the Pontifical Household...
, Marshal of the Sacred Conclave, etc.) are now purely honorary (though still hereditary).
This position had been shared jointly by the Princes Orsini and Colonna, but the former was deprived by Pius XII after obtaining a divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and the title was conferred upon Prince Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Canino and Musignano of the Torlonia
Torlonia
200px|thumb|Coat of arms of the House of Torlonia.The princes Torlonia are an Italian noble family from Rome, who acquired a huge fortune in the 18th and 19th centuries through administering the finances of the Vatican.-History:...
Family.
The Prince Assistants are representatives of the Roman nobility, who serve at the feet of the Throne immediately next to the Cardinal Deacon who stands to the right of the Pope. They alternate office during their lifetimes and no-one can substitute for them.
Their principal function is to serve on the occasion of official visits by a Head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
.
The reforms of 1969 also changed the names and abolished the differing categories of Secret Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword to Gentlemen of His Holiness. Other offices were abolished altogether, but office holders were reassigned.
Great officers
- Prince Assistants to the Papal ThronePrince Assistants to the Papal ThroneThe Princes Assistant to the Pontifical Throne are hereditary offices of the Roman Curia. They date from the early sixteenth century, and survived the reform of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household in 1968...
(hereditary):- Marco Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-CesiMarco Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-CesiDon Marco Alfonso Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-Cesi is the current Prince of Civitella-Cesi. He is the son of Alessandro Torlonia, 5th Prince of Civitella-Cesi and his wife, Infanta Beatriz of Spain, daughter of King Alfonso XIII of Spain...
- Prince Don Marcantonio Colonna, Prince and Duke of Paliano, Duke of Mariano
- Marco Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-Cesi
- Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred ConclaveMarshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred ConclaveThe Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and Sacred Conclave was an hereditary official in the Pontifical Household before Pope Paul VI's reform of the papal court in his motu proprio Pontificalis Domus of 1968. It was vested in Prince Chigi, prince of Farnese, Campagnano, etc., etc...
(non-hereditary):- Prince Don Sigismondo Chigi-Albani della Rovere, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince of Farnese, Campagnano, and Soriano, Duke of Ariccia and Formello
- Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic HospiceGrand Master of the Sacred Apostolic HospiceThe Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice , or Quartermaster-General of the Sacred Palaces, is an hereditary official of the Pontifical Household...
(hereditary):- Prince RuspoliFrancesco Ruspoli, 10th Prince of CerveteriFrancesco, Principe Ruspoli is the current 10th Principe di Cerveteri, 10th Marchese di Riano and 15th Conte di Vignanello, son of Alessandro Ruspoli, 9th Prince of Cerveteri and second wife Nancy de Girard de Charbonnières. He is the first cousin twice removed of Brazilian television and film...
- Prince Ruspoli
- Foriere Maggiore (Quartermaster General) (hereditary):
- Marquess Giulio Sacchetti, Marques of Castel Romano (highest ranking laymen in the Vatican service as Delegate of the State of the City of the Vatican)
- Cavallerizzo MaggioreMaster of the HorseThe Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
(Superintendent of the stables of the Palaces) (hereditary):- Marquess Gregorio Serlupi Crescenzi
- Superintendent of the PostsPostmaster GeneralA Postmaster General is a postmaster responsible for an entire mail distribution organization . The term may refer to:* Postmaster General of the United Kingdom* The head of the Hongkong Post...
(hereditary):- Prince Don Filippo Massimo, Prince and Lord of Arsoli, Duke of Anticoli Corrado
- Keeper of the Golden RoseGolden RoseThe Golden Rose is a gold ornament, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. It is occasionally conferred as a token of reverence or affection...
(destined for members of royal houses) (non-hereditary)
Papal guards
- Captain Commander of the Noble Guard (not hereditary, but always a Roman prince with the rank of Lieutenant General):
- last holders included Princes Altieri, Aldobrandini, Barberini, Rospigliosi).
- Standard Bearer of the Holy Roman Church (hereditary, with the rank of Lieutenant-General)
- Marquess Patrizio Patrizi Naro Montoro, Marquess of the Baldacchino
- Commandant of the Palatine Guard (non-hereditary)
- Captain Commander of the Swiss GuardSwiss GuardSwiss Guards or Schweizergarde is the name given to the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century. They have had a high reputation for discipline, as well as loyalty to their employers...
(not hereditary, but always a Swiss man):- Daniel AnrigDaniel AnrigDaniel Rudolf Anrig is the current Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guard since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 August 2008. He replaced Elmar Mäder who had served as Commandant of the Swiss Guard since 2002. He is the thirty fourth Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss...
- Daniel Anrig
See also
- Prefecture of the Pontifical Household