SECRET ALMONER OF HIS HOLINESS. — The Secret Almoner of His Holiness is a palatine prelate and the first among the participating ecclesiastical secret chamberlains. He has archiepiscopal rank; he is always numbered among the archbishops assisting at the Pontifical Throne, is ordinarily a canon of one of the four patriarchal basilicas, and takes part in functions in the papal chapels.
A sacellarius, with functions considered similar to those later assigned to the eleemosynarius, already appears as early as
ELEMOSINIERE SEGRETO DI S.S. - ELENA
Romani, II, Louvain 1948, p. 71).
But it seems that Gregory X (1271–76) was the first to establish the duties of the almoner prelate. He certainly appears in the Roster of the Papal Household of Nicholas III (1277).
The Secret Almoner of His Holiness exercises his office also during a vacancy of the See [decree Vacantis Apostolico Sedis, 8 Dec. 1945, in AAS, 38 [1946], p. 73], under the authority of the Sacred College, and the new pontiff customarily confirms him in office. He resides in the Apostolic Palace, Apostolic Almonry (v.) is located, of which he is head, as well as the Office of Rescripts for Apostolic Blessings, which are granted with his signature.
The Conservatory known as that of the Zoccolette, the Conservatory of S. Rocco, and the Maestre Pie of the papal schools were dependent upon the Secret Almoner of His Holiness. At present, he is Ordinary of the Pontifical Institute of the Maestre Pie Venerini.