PONTIFICAL ARCHIATRA (ARCHIATRO). — He is the Pope’s private or confidential physician. The absence of any reference to this designation in the papal yearbooks indicates that the title of a. has fallen into disuse or, at least, no longer possesses the official character it formerly had. Indeed, even in antiquity the Pope’s physicians were not always pontifical a., since this qualification had to be expressly conferred upon them by the Pontiff through a note from the mons. majordomo. Upon receiving it, the a. had the relevant apostolic brief dispatched to him; after which the physician became part of the Secret Chamber with the rank of participating secret chamberlain, becoming a prelate of the mantellone (so called because of the garment he wore) and assuming the title of monsignor, although he was often married. To watch over the health of the Roman Pontiff, the a. would visit him either every day or several times a week, according to the wishes of their august client; at times they also attended his ordinary meals.
The a. was a member of the medical college of the Roman University and, when he did not hold its presidency, occupied the position immediately after the president.
At present, as has been said, the title of a. is replaced by the simpler one of “physician to His Holiness”; he nonetheless remains a member of the Secret Chamber and takes his place among the Pope’s household, after the confessor of the Papal Household. Upon the death of the Pontiff, if, in accordance with his instructions, the embalming of the body is to be undertaken, the a. assists at this pious operation, ensuring that it is carried out with the utmost discretion.