MAZZIERI PONTIFICI. - The m. p. (mazzerii Papae, servientes armorum) belong to the subordinate personnel of the papal household and are so called from the silver mace they carry during functions. Historically, the m. p. had their statutes confirmed in 1437 by Eugene IV. On 12 Jan. 1617, moreover, they were updated in the form in which they are still observed today.
The m. p., currently nine in number, are appointed by the pontiff through the major-domo and form a college (with internal offices of dean and secretary), which takes part in the functions at which the pope celebrates or is present, or, during a vacant see, at which the Sacred College is present, and is under the orders of the masters of ceremonies. During these functions two m. p. always stand at the entrance of the enclosure of the benches or of the presbytery of the chapel, guarding the gate of the screen (which they close during the addresses delivered there), allowing no one to enter. Other m. p. accompany, besides the sacristan, also the personages who are to wash the hands of the pontiff. In processions and blessings they support the poles of the baldachin, to hand them over and then receive them back from the prelates referendaries of the Apostolic Signatura, who are to carry them. At the pope's public dinners two of them accompany the carver and two the papal cupbearer. They always carry the mace, from which they take their name, raised and resting on the right shoulder, and they support it with the right hand; when they carry it lowered they place it under the left arm.
The dress of the m. p. consists of an undergarment and a black garment with black velvet borders, a purple-blue soprana with false hanging sleeves of serge or cloth trimmed as above, a lace collar, a sword at the side with a steel hilt, and buckles on the shoes. The mace is of silver, worked with ornaments, and bears at its top the coat of arms of the pontiff who appointed the individual m. p.
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Guglielmo Felici