GUARDIA NOBILE PONTIFICIA. — It is the first, in order of precedence, of the Papal armed corps. The G. n. p. were established by Pius VII by motu proprio of 11 May 1801, under the designation of G. n. of the corps (Cohors praetoria e viris nobilibus Pontifici protegendo), calling upon “cavalrymen,” “broken lances” (ancient militias of the Papal State, disbanded by the French occupation), and knights of the foremost nobility to constitute II. The G. n. of the corps began its service on Corpus Christi Day in 1801.
It is currently organized according to the “regulations” of Benedict XV of 20 Apr. 1918.
The G. n., originally consisting of two companies, currently consists of only one. Its establishment comprises: a commanding captain with the rank of lieutenant general (who is always a Roman prince and is invested with the Supreme Order of Christ); a lieutenant; a brigadier general, nineteen exempt officers or colonels, an adjutant, eight cadets with the rank of lieutenant colonels, from among whom the archivist and treasurer are chosen, and approximately 50 men divided into captains, lieutenants, and second lieutenants. There are also exempt officers and honorary guards.
The daily duty of the G. n. is to remain with a detachment of 6 guards and an ordinance trumpeter, commanded by a cadet under the orders of an exempt officer, stationed in the papal antechambers during audiences, to render honors and escort
His Holiness when he leaves his private apartments. When His Holiness takes the gestatorial chair and proceeds in solemn form, the escort is provided by the officers and exempt officers.
The exempt officer of the G. n. on duty is responsible for guarding the Sacred Person of the pope and, as a sign of special and high jurisdiction, carries the staff of command. Together with the commander and the lieutenants, he has the rank of participating secret chamberlain of sword and cape and therefore forms part of the papal household (v.); he remains beside the Sacred Person of the Pontiff during audiences and formerly rode on the right of his carriage. The daily service detachments of the other armed corps of the Apostolic Palace also depend upon him.
From the moment the supreme pontiff, having fallen ill, receives the Holy Viaticum, a sentry of the corps mounts guard at the door of His Holiness’s bedchamber and is not relieved until all danger has passed. In the event of the death of the supreme pontiff, a detachment of the corps keeps watch day and night, without interruption, in the room where the sacred Cadaver lies and does not leave it until it has been placed in the tomb. Only in this case does the G. n. wear mourning, which consists in covering the baldric, sword-knot, standard, and two trumpets with a black veil.
The G. n. depend upon the secretary of State for organization, the Administration of the property of the Holy See for administration, and the major-domo and master of the chamber for extraordinary and ordinary daily service.
The appointment of new G. n. is submitted to the deliberation of the admission council, which presents its decree to the secretary of State in order to obtain from the supreme pontiff the approval and appointment of the suitable candidates. The G. n. must possess at least 100 years of nobility and are chosen from among the nobility of the former Papal State. The commanding captain may, in special cases, submit for sovereign approval the authorization to admit to candidacy for appointment to the G. n. individuals born in other Italian provinces who possess nobility.
An ordinary active G. n. is selected by His Holiness to carry, as a cabinet courier, notification of the appointment to the newly appointed cardinal residing abroad. In the capacity of cabinet courier, one is also assigned to extraordinary dispatches that may be required to sovereigns.
On 31 May 1820, Pius VII blessed in the Pauline Chapel of the Quirinal Palace the standard of the G. n.; the standard is still made of white silk and bears at its center, embroidered in gold, the coat of arms of the reigning pontiff.
The standard-bearer of the Holy Roman Church, an hereditary office in the family of the marquises Patrizi Naro Montoro, had the rank and uniform of a cavalry captain and, in solemn papal cavalcades, always proceeded between the two captains of the said guard. At present he has the rank and uniform of a captain of the G. n. and forms part of the papal household together with the commander of the G. n. The banner of the Holy Roman Church is kept in the quarters of the G. n. in the Vatican Palace.