APOSTOLIC FLORERIA. - The Apostolic Floreria is the papal wardrobe, where the regent, a palatine official dependent on the Major Foriere of the Holy Apostolic Palaces, preserves the furnishings, utensils, furniture, linens, silverware, table services, copperware, decorations, and all that is necessary for pontifical functions; in short, everything movable belonging to the Holy Apostolic Palaces, except for the sacred furnishings and vestments, whose custody is entrusted to the Monsignor Sacristan.
At the Apostolic Floreria, precious ancient registers and plans of the palatine chapels, basilicas, and churches of Rome are also kept, where the pope is accustomed to celebrate or attend sacred functions, with indications of the decorations and everything the Apostolic Floreria must provide to adorn and prepare the palatine halls for consistories, congregations, sermons, etc.
In the work of Gattico, a Vatican codex is cited, which among other palatine offices of the time of Alexander V (elected in 1409) includes the Florenzius Palatini, the Apostolic Floreria, then called "figurata." This is one of the earliest certain pieces of information about the Apostolic Floreria, whose origins must be placed between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th.
The most recent norms regarding the duties of the Apostolic Floreria are established in the motu proprio of Leo XII of November 23, 1824, in the motu proprio of Gregory XVI of December 12, 1832, and in his Regulation for the central offices of the palatine administration, published on May 2, 1840.
During a sede vacante, the custody of the Apostolic Floreria devolves to the clerics of the Apostolic Chamber.