PONTIFICAL GENDARMERIE. — It is one of the corps of the Pontifical armed forces. The institution of the Pontifical Gendarmerie, through the corps of the Pontifical Carabinieri, dates back to 1816. Indeed, under art. 243 of the motu proprio of 14 July 1816, the corps of the Pontifical Carabinieri was established. The Pontifical Carabinieri were subsequently divided into two regiments with 2,774 men and 411 horses. This corps, subordinate to the Cardinal Secretary of State, represented by the Monsignor Governor of Rome, assumed and carried out police duties. On 17 September 1849, by a governmental notification approved by Pius IX, the regiment of the Pontifical Velites, a new political force, replaced the Pontifical Carabinieri; shortly afterward (15 July 1850) it took the name of gendarmerie and shortly thereafter (16 October 1851) came 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 Pontifical Gendarmerie, reduced to the minimum of its establishment, was quartered in the Apostolic Palaces, where it still has its headquarters. During this period the first centenary of the corps was celebrated, commemorated by Benedict XV with a medal (brief, 22 October 1916).
After the Conciliation, art. 7 of the fundamental law of the State of Vatican City (7 June 1929, no. 1) established that the Pontifical Gendarmerie was to be subordinate to the Governor of the State. At present the Pontifical Gendarmerie is governed by the organic and disciplinary regulations for the corps of the Pontifical Gendarmerie of 8 December 1946 (which replaced earlier regulations
of 1933), issued by decree of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City. These regulations (art. 3) place the Pontifical Gendarmerie under the authority of the Cardinal President of the Pontifical Commission.
The establishment of the Pontifical Gendarmerie comprises: a) a command: with a colonel commander, appointed by the Pope; a chaplain, equivalent in rank to a lieutenant colonel; a lieutenant colonel, deputy commander; a major rapporteur; a lieutenant and a second lieutenant; a medical officer, equivalent in rank to a captain, all appointed by a measure of the Pontifical Commission for
the State of Vatican City: the command forms part of the Pontifical Household (v.); b) 37 non-commissioned officers (including marshals, brigadiers and vice-brigadiers); c) 113 enlisted men.
The corps of the Pontifical Gendarmerie safeguards the person of the Supreme Pontiff, performs ordinary service to defend the territory of the State of Vatican City and to exercise within it the functions of police, internal order and security, with the duty of ensuring observance of the laws, regulations and ordinances of the public authorities. It is also entrusted with ceremonial guard duty (art. 1 of the Regulations).
During a vacancy of the See, the Pontifical Gendarmerie is at the disposal of the Marshal of the Conclave for services relating to the Conclave itself.
Other security and surveillance functions are entrusted to it with regard to the Pontifical Villas of Castelgandolfo and certain Pontifical properties in Rome.