PONTIFICAL GENDARMERIE. - It is one of the corps of the pontifical armed forces. The institution of the p. g., through the corps of pontifical carabinieri, dates back to 1816. In fact, by art. 243 of the motu proprio of 14 July 1816 the corps of pontifical carabinieri was instituted. The pontifical carabinieri were then divided into two regiments with 2,774 men and 411 horses. This corps, under the authority of the cardinal Secretary of State, represented by monsignor the governor of Rome, took on and performed police service. On 17 Sept. 1849, by governmental notification approved by Pius IX, the pontifical carabinieri were replaced by the regiment of pontifical velites, a new political force, which shortly thereafter (15 July 1850) took the name of gendarmerie and shortly thereafter (16 Oct. 1851) passed under the direct authority of the cardinal Secretary of State. The gendarmes were quartered in the Palazzo della Consulta. They also took part in clashes between pontifical forces and Italian volunteers.
After the occupation of Rome by the Italian government, the p. g., reduced to the minimum of its cadres, took up quarters in the Apostolic Palaces, where it still has its headquarters. During this period came the 1st centenary of the corps, which Benedict XV had commemorated with a commemorative medal (brief, 22 Oct. 1916).
After the Conciliation, art. 7 of the fundamental law of the Vatican City State (7 June 1929, no. 1) established that the p. g. was under the authority of the governor of the State. At present the p. g. is governed by the organic and disciplinary regulations for the corps of the p. g. of 8 Dec. 1946 (which replaced previous regulations of 1933), issued by a decree of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State. The said regulations (art. 3) place the p. g. under the authority of the cardinal president of the Pontifical Commission.
The establishment of the p. g. comprises: a) a command: with a colonel commandant, appointed by pontifical nomination; a chaplain, ranked as lieutenant colonel; a lieutenant colonel, deputy commandant; a major relator; a lieutenant, a second lieutenant; a medical officer, ranked as captain, all appointed by provision of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State: the command is part of the pontifical household (v.); b) 37 non-commissioned officers (among marshals, brigadiers and vice-brigadiers); c) 113 enlisted men.
The corps of the p. g. watches over the safety of the supreme pontiff, performs ordinary service to defend the territory of the Vatican City State and to exercise therein the functions of police, internal order and security, with the task of ensuring observance there of the laws, regulations and ordinances of the public authorities. Service of honor is also entrusted to it (art. 1 of the Regulations).
During the period of sede vacante the p. g. is at the disposal of the marshal of the Conclave, for services pertaining to the Conclave itself.
Other functions of security and surveillance are entrusted to it in relation to the pontifical Villas of Castelgandolfo and to certain pontifical properties in Rome.
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Guglielmo Felici