The Roman Court or Papal Curia was reformed by the papal bull ''

Pontificalis Domus ''Pontificalis Domus'' ( en, The Papal Household) was a ''motu proprio'' document issued by Pope Paul VI on 28 March 1968, in the fifth year of his pontificate. It reorganized the Papal Household, which had been known until then as the Papal C ...

'' issues by

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his death in Augus ...

in 1969. It 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. The titles abolished, such as the

Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice The Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice ( it, Gran Maestro del Sacro Ospizio) or Quartermaster-General of the Sacred Palaces is a hereditary official of the Pontifical Household. The title and office became hereditary on June 28, 1808, wh ...

and Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred Conclave, remain heredity but are now purely honorary. This position of Prince Assistant had been shared jointly by the Princes

Orsini Orsini is a surname of Italian origin, originally derived from Latin ''ursinus'' ("bearlike") and originating as an epithet or sobriquet describing the name-bearer's purported strength. Notable people with the surname include the following: *Angel ...

and

Colonna The House of Colonna, also known as ''Sciarrillo'' or ''Sciarra'', is an Italian noble family, forming part of the papal nobility. It was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one pope (Martin V) and many other church and politic ...

,"Historic Army of the Vatican is Reforming", ''San Jose Mercury-news'', Volume LXXXV, Number 98, 6 October 1913
/ref> but the former was deprived of the title by Pope Pius XII after he obtained a

divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...

and the title was conferred upon Prince Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Canino and Musignano of the

Torlonia 200px, Coat of arms of the House of Torlonia. The House of Torlonia is the name of an Italian princely family from Rome, which acquired a huge fortune in the 18th and 19th centuries through administering the finances of the Vatican. The first infl ...

family. The Prince Assistants are representatives of the Roman nobility, who serve ''at the feet of the Throne'' immediately next to the

cardinal deacon A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Co ...

who stands to the right of the pope. They alternate in fulfilling the functions of the office and no one can substitute for them. Their principal function is to serve on the occasion of official visits by a

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

. The reforms of 1969 also abolished the various categories of Secret Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword and changed this title to

Gentlemen of His Holiness A Papal Gentleman, also called a Gentleman of His Holiness, is a lay attendant of the pope and his papal household in Vatican City. Papal gentlemen serve in the Apostolic Palace near St. Peter's Basilica in ceremonial positions, such as escorting d ...

. Other offices were abolished altogether, but officeholders were reassigned.

Office holders

Great officers

* Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne (hereditary): ** Prince Don Alessandro Torlonia ** Prince Don Marcantonio Colonna, Prince and Duke of Paliano, Duke of Mariano * Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred Conclave (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 *

(hereditary): ** Prince Ruspoli * Hereditary Quartermaster General of the Sacred Apostolic Palace (hereditary): ** Marquess Giulio Sacchetti, Marquess of Castel Romano (highest ranking laymen in the Vatican service as Delegate of the State of the City of the Vatican) * Cavallerizzo Maggiore (Superintendent of the stables of the Palaces) (hereditary): ** Marquess Gregorio Serlupi Crescenzi * Superintendent of the Posts (hereditary): ** Prince Don Filippo Massimo, Prince and Lord of Arsoli, Duke of Anticoli Corrado * Keeper of the Golden Rose (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 Guard (not hereditary, but always a Swiss man): ** Christoph Graf

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hereditary Officers Of The Roman Curia Officials of the Roman Curia Nobles of the Holy See

Office holders

Great officers

Papal guards

See also

References