PONTIFICAL FAMILY. - It is, in a broad sense, the household of the Roman Pontiff, as head of the whole Church and for that very reason invested with sovereign prerogatives.
I. NOTION
It is composed of ecclesiastical and lay persons assigned to the personal and domestic service of the Supreme Pontiff, whether effective or honorary: hence the distinction between familiars of number and supernumeraries. This papal household is proportionate to the importance of the Head of the Catholic Church and of the Sovereign of the State of Vatican City.
The papal household has its own internal hierarchy, and the qualification of familiar of the pope is highly honorable. It is also customarily called the Pontifical Court, although the term is less apt, being rather used for temporal sovereigns: and at times, in an ambiguous sense, under the name of Roman Court there is also included the Roman Curia (v.), which instead indicates something quite different. This confusion is encouraged by the fact of a common historical origin; a true distinction becomes perceptible only later between the papal household and the Roman Curia. Even the fact, still current, that many members of the Roman Curia are part of the papal household favors the exchange of terms. It was logical that the ecclesiastics and also the lay persons present in the palace should take part in the sacred functions celebrated there, especially when the pontiff himself was present or celebrating. Hence the other term of Pontifical Chapel (quite distinct from the Pontifical Musical Chapel) to indicate the body of ecclesiastics and lay persons participating in the solemn liturgical service, at which the Supreme Pontiff is present or could be present (papal chapel).
II. HISTORICAL NOTES
The first historically certain record of the existence of a pontifical household, in the manner of a small court, is given by the Ordo Romanus, I, 8th century (cf. M. Andrieu, Les Ordines Romanes, II, Louvain 1948, pp. 38-45). Various officials are mentioned there, from the vicedominus, head of the pontifical household, to the primicerius, to whom the direction of the personnel was entrusted, to the sacellarius, in charge of the chapel, to the paraphonista, director of the chant, to the nomenclator, in charge of audiences, to the primicerius of the apostolic notaries, to the primicerius defenzorum, to the cesterarii, assigned to the custody of the wardrobe and therefore often also treasurers, to the ostiarii or doorkeepers, to those having care of the feeding of the household, to the prior stabuli, superintendent of the stables.
(phot. The Associated Press)
PONTIFICAL FAMILY. - The prelate of the pontifical ceremonies.
The maintenance of the f. p. [pontifical family] was provided for by the offerings of pilgrims, by the revenues of the duchy of Rome, practically administered by the popes, and by the revenues coming from the possessions that the Holy See held in the south and in Sicily. For the defense of the ecclesiastical patrimony, a pontifical militia is found established in the 9th century. The further notices that we have of the f. p. are likewise from the Carolingian era. At its head there is still the vicedominus (vicedomino), on whom depended the cubicolarii (chamberlains), the cellerarii (cellarers), the stratores (equerries). The nomenclator is the grand master of ceremonies, the cestarius or prior vestiarii is the treasurer. The employees of the Chancery are called notarii or scrinarii, among whom the notarii regionarii are important; the first two of the group, the primicerius and secundicerius, were among the great dignitaries of the Church. The primicerius will later be succeeded by the primicerinus, as head of the chancery. Assigned to the administration are the arcarius (cashier) and the sacellarius (paymaster), who have under their authority a body of causidici, clerics and laymen. The clerics will later give life to the body of the seven palatine judges (primicerius, secundicerius, arcarius, sacellarius, protoscrinus, primicerius defenzorum, nomenclator). There are further recalled to us the consiliarius and the ordinator, figures that soon disappeared from the f. p. The whole body of the persons of the palace are recalled under the name of familia s. Petri, although it seems that the term had a broader meaning as a synonym for the ecclesiastical bureaucracy.
With the expansion of the Pontifical State and of ecclesiastical affairs the f. p. grew progressively.
In a document of the 1st year of the pontificate of Nicholas III (1277) the picture of the composition of the f. p. is given (P. L. Galletti, Memorie di tre antiche chiese di Rieti, Rome 1765, pp. 171-83); there are recalled the camerlengo, now at the head of the Sacred Palaces, 5 masters of the chamber, the last of whom is the auditor camerae, the vice-chancellor, the marescalcus iusticis, etc. And furthermore there are recalled the: domicelli, camerarii, cappellani, cubicolares, ostiarii maiores et minores, officiales domicelli, servientes nigri et albi, cursores; mention is also made of the: cancellaria, elemosyna, coquina magna et parva, marestalla alba et nigra.
The greatest development of the f. p. occurred during the Avignon period (1306-96), during which many bishops and abbots also flocked to the court, so much so that Innocent VI (1352-62) felt obliged to send them back to their own residences. During this period the direction of the f. p. is entrusted to the magister sacri hospitali Palatii Apostolici, who is a layman, the cardinal camerlengo having been dispensed from residing at court (cf. S. Fantoni Castrucci, Istoria d'Avignone, Avignon 1678, p. 163 ff.). But precisely in order not to leave the f. p. in the hands of a layman, Martin V instituted the prefecture of the Sacred Apostolic Palace, entrusting it to an ecclesiastic. But the prefect under Urban VIII will have the title of "pontifical majordomo." At times prefect of the Sacred Palaces and majordomo will be two distinct offices.
For the 15th century a description of the f. p. is found in the manuscript entitled Ministeria et officia donata pontificalis Pii II anno MCCCCLX, from which Marini drew and published a roster of the personnel (cf. G. Marini, Archiatri pontificii, II, Rome 1825, p. 152 ff.). The familiars of the first category were 63, each with his own familiars; those of the second category far more. Among the first there is found a cifrator (later secretary of the Cipher), but his existence at the pontifical court must be considerably earlier.
The collection of the pontifical registers, complete from Paul IV (1555) onward, gives us step by step the state and the progress of the f. p. in the succeeding centuries. Under the same Pontiff there formed part of the f. p.: 10 prelates; 6 secretaries; the president of the Apostolic Chamber, the confessor, the master of the chamber; 8 chamberlains of higher rank; 12 other chamberlains with two servants each; 24 other chamberlains, belonging to the nobility, with one servant each; 5 assistants of the chamber; 7 physicians; 1 pharmacist; the grand baker; 24 chaplains; 2 plumbers; 3 carving equerries; 28 simple equerries; various employees such as messengers, couriers, etc.; 50 palafrenieri; 2 mace-bearers; 2 master ushers de virga rubra; ushers; revisers of petitions; clockmakers; compatiati, librarians; copyists for Latin, Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, etc.; altogether about 800 persons, who with various other employees brought to a thousand the number of those belonging to the f. p. These, at least in part, followed the Pontiff also on his journeys (cf. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica, XCVII, pp. 179-84). They took their meals at court and were recompensed in kind until Urban VIII, who partially replaced this with payment in money, made exclusive later by Pius VI.
III. CURRENT STATE OF THE PONTIFICAL FAMILY
The CIC has introduced no change in the offices of the Palace. Can. 328 declares: «As regards the members of the household of the Roman Pontiff, whether or not they enjoy the title of prelate, one must abide by the privileges, rules and traditions of the (donated) pontifical family».
Privileges, rules and traditions are contained principally in the constitutions of: Pius IV, Circunspecta, of 12 April 1562; Gregory XV, Venerabili fratri, of 23 March 1621; Alexander VIII, Venerabilibus fratribus, of 12 January 1690; Innocent XIII, Venerabilibus fratribus, of 26 May 1721; Benedict XIII, Circunspecta Romani, of 15 December 1724; the brief of Pius VI of 22 June 1775; his chirograph of 6 April 1775; the motu proprio of Pius VII of 3 May 1800; that of Leo XII of 23 November 1824; of Gregory XVI of 10 December 1832; of Pius X of 21 February 1905 (cf. Bullarium Romanum... ed. Taurinensis, VII [1862], p. 110 ff.; XII [1867], p. 509 ff.; XX [1870], p. 231 ff.; XXII [1871], p. 120; Bullarii Romani continuatio, VI [Frato 1847], pp. 106 ff., 35 ff.; VII [ivi 1850], p. 9 ff.; VIII [ivi 1854], p. 12 ff.; Acta Gregorii XVI, ed. A. M. Bernasconi, I [Rome 1901], p. 203 ff.; Pii X Acta, II [ivi 1907], p. 26 ff.; P. Gasparri, Codici iuris canonici fontes, III, Rome 1925, p. 633). The functions of the principal members of the pontifical family are normally treated under their respective entries; an overall view will be given here, touching on those figures who have no separate treatment elsewhere.
(pic. Felici)
PONTIFICAL FAMILY. - Cameriere segreto partecipante.
1. The role of the f. p. opens with the palatine cardinals, who are the first familiars of the Pope: indeed they (v. Notizie di Roma, n. 1724), are noted first under the title: f. p.
St. Gregory III, in 735, seeing that the regionary deacon cardinals had increased from 7 to 14, added 4 more to them with the name of palatine cardinals: these were to assist the Pope while he celebrated in the Lateran and Vatican Basilicas and to sing the Gospel in the Lateran. The palatine cardinals later lost their original function and assumed the principal offices in the f. p., which previously had been exercised by prelates. The ancient rolls of the Apostolic Palace included the palatine cardinals who were registered in the class of participating secret chamberlains.
The palatine cardinals, who are designated by each new pope, unless he confirms those of his predecessor, often varied in number. Thus there were included among them the datary, the Secretary of State, the secretary for internal affairs of State, the secretary of the memorials, the secretary of pontifical briefs, as well as the cardinal nephews. The prelate auditor of the pope, if elevated to the purple, retaining the qualification of cardinal pro-datary, was considered palatine, and so too the librarian, should he reside in the Vatican. When Pius IX assigned the prefecture of the Holy Apostolic Palaces to a cardinal (on 1 Nov. 1848 he conferred it on Card. Antonelli) he created another palatine cardinal.
At present the palatine cardinals are two: the datary of His Holiness and the Secretary of State.
2. The most distinguished number of ecclesiastics and laymen, which will now be examined, constitutes what in curial language is called the noble secret antechamber (Camera secreta SS. mi Domini Nostri Papae). By this designation are customarily indicated the primary and intimate familiar ministers of the pope, who have a place in the secret antechamber and in the other various and distinct antechambers of the Apostolic Palace.
This designation must not be very ancient, given that Lunadoro in his Relazione della Corte di Roma (Rome 1664) does not mention it, and Zaccaria in his Ratio instit. studii ritualis, art. 1 (v. Onomastico con rituale, Faenza 1787) names the secret chamber of the pope where he treats of the offices proper to the papal palace. In the Diario di Roma, which began to be published in 1716, the generality of persons assigned to the immediate service of the pope is repeatedly called the secret chamber.
The first members of the secret antechamber also have the qualification of prelati palatii and the first three have the title of reverendissimo excellency and are: the majordomo of His Holiness (Praefectus Palatii Apostolici), the master of the chamber (Praefectus Cubiculi Secreti Pontificis), who at present also exercises the duties of the majordomo; the auditor of His Holiness (Auditor SS. mi D. mi Nostri Papae), whose functions are entrusted to the secretary of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and the master of the Holy Apostolic Palace (Magister S. Palatii Apostolici).
The most important lay office of the f. p. is that of grand master of the Holy Hospice (Magister S. Hospitii), which, held hereditarily by the Conti family, passed upon its extinction to the Ruspoli, who likewise enjoy it as a hereditary office. Benedict XV, by apostolic letter of 28 May 1916 (AAS, 9 [1916], p. 72) separated the office of master of the Holy Hospice from the office of intimate cubicular and from the number of chamberlains of sword and cape, of whom he is the first, constituted it as its own and singular order and attributed to it the title of grand master. By decree of the Sacred Congregation of Ceremonial, of 29 Apr. 1886 (cf. A. Ruspoli, Del maestro del S. Ospizio Apostolico, Vignanello 1925, pp. 71-75), it falls to the grand master to receive, assist and serve royal personages or heads of State who solemnly come to the audience of the supreme pontiff. He is the only layman of the noble court who has a place in the papal chapel, where in the square formed by the benches reserved for the cardinals, he remains standing near the bench of the deacon cardinals. Having been entrusted with the custody of the said chapel and of the public consistories, which must be regulated «ad instar cappellae», he also has the title of Custos S. Sacelli (v. decision of the Sacred Congregation of Ceremonial of 30 May 1901). In their absence he substitutes for the princes assisting at the Throne. Whenever, in public form, he goes to exercise his office, the grand master is accompanied by four Swiss. He receives his appointment, made by the supreme pontiff, by a note of the Secretary of State, and then the apostolic brief is sent to him.
3. The class of cubiculari (syncelli), ecclesiastics, to whom the title of monsignor belongs (to the secret almoner and to the secretary of the Cipher, also that of reverendissimo excellency), now called participating secret chamberlains, begins with the secret almoner (v. ELEMOSINIERE SEGRETO DI S. SANTITÀ), the secretary of the Briefs to Princes (Pro litteris in forma brevi ad Principes Secretarius; v. SEGRETERIA DEI BREVI AI PRINCIPI), the secretary of the Cipher (Notarum arcanarum S. P. Secretarius vulgo cifrarum Secretarius; v. SEGRETERIA DI STATO) and the secretary of Latin letters (Litterarum latinarum Scriba seu Secretarius; v. SEGRETERIA DELLE LETTERE LATINE).
The participating secret chamberlains, performing service directly at the person of the pope, also participated at his table, whence their name. Some of them hold the three stable offices of: cupbearer (pincerna), secretary of embassies (nuntius) and wardrobe-keeper (ventierius). It falls to the cupbearer to assist the Supreme Pontiff at solemn dinners and to hand him his drinks; he holds the pope's palm and candle at functions; in the absence of the master of the chamber he acts as his substitute and exercises all his functions. It falls to the secretary of embassies to present the homage and the gifts that the pontiff was accustomed to send to sovereigns residing in Rome, to cardinals and often also to ambassadors, at the moment of their departure. To the wardrobe-keeper belongs the custody of the robes of the Supreme Pontiff, for which reason he now formally carries the red hat (galero) to new cardinals. A fourth participating secret chamberlain has no particular public function, but is at the pope's disposal. These secret chamberlains were sometimes secret treasurers and therefore gave the particular gifts and alms; some were intimate secretaries (as, for example, in the pontificate of Pius XI) and domestic librarians, and many times they exercised the office of secret carvers. Their number varied at the pleasure of the pontiffs. They serve in weekly rotation and their office ceases with the death of the pontiff. The sacristan (Praefectus Sacrarii Apostolici) and the subdatary of His Holiness (v. DATARIA APOSTOLICA), when the office is filled, are participating secret chamberlains.
4. There follow, then, other lay participating secret chamberlains, who take their name from their dress and are called participating secret chamberlains of sword and cape. Each is distinguished by a special title which, by secular privileges, is hereditary in some of the foremost noble families of Rome (Massimo, Barberini, Sacchetti, Serlupi Crescenzi, etc.). Thus there is the major foriere of the Holy Apostolic Palaces
(Forerius maior), the major equerry of His Holiness (v.: Praefectus stabilis), the superintendent general of the posts (Praefectus tabellariorum), the bearers of the golden rose (v. 1084 golden rose), the secretary of embassies. Counted among these secret chamberlains are the exempt of the noble guards on duty and the colonel of the Swiss Guard.
The superintendent general of the Posts was in ancient times called praefectus cursus publicis; he had under him throughout the whole Papal State the mail-coaches and the extraordinary couriers; he superintended the posts for the changing of horses; he accompanied the Supreme Pontiff on journeys, and opened and closed the door of the pontifical carriage. He went out to meet the sovereigns who came to Rome, as far as the borders of the State. The popes, beginning with Sixtus V, issued various constitutions to regulate his prerogatives. He was then entrusted with the superintendence of the postal service at the Ministry of Finance, and his attributions were established in the motu proprio of Gregory XVI of 4 Nov. 1840 (Acta Gregorii XVI, IV, Rome 1904, p. 373).
The bearers of the golden rose are two Roman princes, to whom is entrusted by the Supreme Pontiff the task of delivering the golden rose, a pontifical token either of particular devotion to cathedral churches and distinguished sanctuaries, or of esteem and paternal affection to Catholic sovereigns and sovereign ladies, princes and princesses, valiant captains and personages, benefactors of the Holy See, and likewise to illustrious Catholic republics and cities. On 30 June 1948 Pius XII (NAS, 40 [1948], p. 343) instituted a new participating secret chamberlain of sword and cape, conferring on him the office of secretary of embassies, leaving to his ecclesiastical participating secret chamberlain (nuntius) the same title.
The major foriere of the Holy Apostolic Palaces (Forerius maior) is a palatine official who, with the rank of participating secret chamberlain of sword and cape, belongs to the noble pontifical family and forms part of that secret chamber which precedes and follows the pope when he solemnly leaves his private apartments. The origin of this office, which is already found under the name of Florerius Palati in a codex of the times of Alexander V ([1409-10], cf. G. B. Gattico, Acta selecta caeremonialia S.R.E., Rome 1752, p. 268), must almost certainly be placed between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th. This office was also held by an ecclesiastic. At present it is enjoyed hereditarily by the family of the marquises Sacchetti. To the major foriere, head of the floreria, belongs the superintendence of the buildings, the water and the furnishings of the Palace. It also falls to the major foriere to precede the Supreme Pontiff on journeys, to superintend these, to prepare the lodgings and everything needed both for the pope and for his court. At present the major foriere has a coadjutor who is of the same Sacchetti family. In the floreria he is assisted by a regent of the floreria and by the clerks. His attributions are fixed in the motu proprio and in the regulations that the Supreme Pontiffs issued to provide for the proper functioning of their floreria. At present they are determined by the "regulation" of Leo XIII of 1882.
5. There follow then, in the order of precedence of the f. p., the domestic prelates (antistites urbani, v. PRELATI).
6. There follow, then, the Pontifical Noble Guard, of which the commander, the lieutenants and the exempts are participating secret chamberlains of sword and cape.
7. The members of the College of the masters of pontifical ceremonies are also secret chamberlains, but ecclesiastics. In a document of 710 it is found that in that era they existed under the name of Ordinatores; later they were called Clerici caeremoniarum; in 1563, by a brief of Pius IV of 10 May, they changed this name and assumed the present one of Magistri caeremoniarum apostolicarum. Besides regulating the papal ceremonies, they assist the cardinals of the S. R. C. at solemn functions, ceremonies, etc.; for the prefect of ceremonies assigns a pontifical master of ceremonies to each cardinal. They take part, in the capacity of notaries, in the pontifical missions that accompany the cardinals legates of the pope. Famous are the "diaries"
of the papal ceremonies, which the masters of ceremonies wrote from the most ancient times and still write, and which are preserved in the archive of their college. Their number varied under the different pontificates. At present they are nine: the first five are "ex numero", the others "soprannumerarii". Their head is the Praefectus seu Antistes caeremoniarum, who is elected by the Supreme Pontiff with a special brief, has the rank of domestic prelate and of protonotary apostolic "ad instar"; in accompanying and assisting the pope he always places himself at his left. He regulates all movements at functions, watches over the actions of the masters of ceremonies and suggests to the pope, when necessary, what is to be done. In consistories he intimates to whoever has the right to approach the pontifical throne, to withdraw from it and to leave the hall of the consistory (l'extra omnes). Functions and consistories are announced by a printed schedule (intimatio), signed by the prefect of ceremonies. The ample privileges of the masters of ceremonies (who also hold the title of monsignor) were confirmed by Benedict XV with a decree of the S. Congregation of the Ceremonial of 27 June 1917. They do not cease at the death of the Supreme Pontiff; indeed, during the vacant See they function as participating chamberlains.
8. The last class of ecclesiastical secret chamberlains is that of the supernumeraries, whose precise name is supernumerary secret chamberlains of His Holiness (cubicularii intimi seu segreti). Their institution is undoubtedly, as has been seen, very ancient; certain notices of it, however, exist only from the times of Urban VIII. From the pontificate of Pius VI they serve in the secret antechamber and at chapels and functions without remuneration. For service in the antechamber they depend on the master of the chamber, for the other functions on mons. majordomo. They are appointed by a note of the Secretariat of State and cease at the death of the pontiff. The title of monsignor also belongs to them.
9. There are then the lay secret chamberlains, who from their dress take the name of secret chamberlains of sword and cloak (cubicularii intimi ab esse et lacerna), who are distinguished from the participating ones, of whom we have already spoken, because the former have their own offices and attributions. Their institution goes back to the 16th century (1573) according to the Manuel des dates (Paris 1839, camerieri segreti); to 1592, according to F. Buonanni (s. v. in Gerarchia ecclesiastica, Rome 1720). They have the rank and office of true chamberlains both at Court and in the functions celebrated by the Supreme Pontiff. They are distinguished into chamberlains of number, who are four (they are appointed for life by the Supreme Pontiff with a ticket of the Secretariat of State and also serve in all the ceremonies that take place in "sede vacante") and supernumerary chamberlains, who assist the aforesaid four in the antechamber and in other functions. All the secret chamberlains of sword and cloak must be noble or at least distinguished by social position. Their church dress is the black one in the Spanish style; for service in the antechamber they have civil dress.
10. Next come the chamberlains of honor, ecclesiastical and lay. a) First among them are the chamberlains of honor in purple dress, instituted in recent times, though not clearly defined (they were already numerous at the time of Benedict XIV, 1740-58). They are distinguished with the qualification of cubicularii honoris and serve in the antechamber of honor (throne room). They accompany the Supreme Pontiff to the Vatican Basilica on the occasion of functions. They enjoy the title of monsignor and the same insignia and the same privileges as the secret chamberlains, whom however they follow in the order of precedence at Court. They cease at the death of the pontiff who appointed them. b) Then come the chamberlains of honor "extra urbem" (cubicularii honoris extra urbem), of recent institution, attributed to Pius VI. They have insignia and privileges similar to the preceding ones, but their employment is limited to residences "extra urbem," so that, wherever the Supreme Pontiff may be, he may find his chamberlains of honor to serve him at Court. Their office ceases at the death of the Supreme Pontiff who conferred it. c) The last chamberlains of honor are lay, who from their dress take the name of chamberlains of honor of sword and cloak (cubicularii honoris ab esse et lacerna). Because of the devastations suffered by the pontifical archives their origin, although very ancient, is uncertain; certain notices of them are had under Paul IV (1355). On their insignia, which they wear in the form of a collar, they have a different monogram from the secret chamberlains and a lower rank at Court. They too are distinguished into chamberlains of honor of number (four) and supernumeraries. Those of number were formerly chosen by seniority of appointment; now, like all the others, by sovereign grace. They serve in the antechamber of honor (throne room) and in the other functions according to the orders of their superiors (the majordomo and the master of the chamber).
11. In the pontifical family, between the already examined chamberlains of honor and the classes of chaplains, take their place the general staffs and superior officers of the armed forces. The precedence among them is thus established: general staff and superior officers of the Pontifical Swiss Guard; then follow those of the Palatine Guard of Honor and finally those of the Pontifical Gendarmerie.
12. The chaplains, members of the pontifical family, appear from the 12th century among the familiars of the pope. It should be noted that under this name there also originated, among others, the auditors of the Sacred Roman Rota, who are recognized as perpetual chaplains of the pope and exercise their duties in the public chapels and in the solemn functions at which the pope assists or celebrates. These chaplains, after the 16th-17th century, have constantly preserved their present qualifications and prerogatives, being distinguished into secret (secret chaplains) and common (cappellani communes).
a) The secret chaplains perform service of particular trust and assist the Supreme Pontiff in the functions. When the pope celebrates Holy Mass in his private chapel, a chaplain immediately afterward celebrates another one pro gratiarum actione. To the first secret chaplain is reserved the office of caudatary, to the second that of cross-bearer, that is, of carrying the cross before the pope in public functions. There are also the secret chaplains of honor (cappellani segreti honoris), who were instituted by Clement XII and form a separate class. They have the dress like the effective ones and intervene alongside them in the pontifical chapels and in the other functions to supply for them in case of deficiency. They have the title of monsignor. Pius VII appointed chaplains of honor "extra urbem" (cappellani honoris extra urbem). They have the title of monsignor and the pontifical privileges only outside Rome. b) As has been said, the common chaplains form a college. Their existence is attested in the 16th-17th century with offices and prerogatives not different from the present ones (see indeed the constitution Grata familiaritatis of Innocent X issued on 16 Jan. 1647: and the apostolic letter of Clement XII dated 18 May 1731 (Bullar. Roman., ed. H. Mainardi - C. Cocquelines, Rome 1739-62, VI, p. 102; XIII, p. 255). They serve in the common chapel. They are appointed for life with a brief and therefore remain in office sede vacante. They are divided into participating and supernumerary.
13. Before the college of common chaplains there take their place in the pontifical family the secret clerics, ecclesiastics attached to the private chapel of the Supreme Pontiff, who adorn its altar and prepare what is needed for the celebration of the Holy Mass of the pontiff and for that of thanksgiving. They are appointed by the majordomo and enjoy the qualities and favors of true familiars. They wear purple dress with a mantellone. They cease at the death of the Supreme Pontiff who appointed them.
14. The last members of the pontifical family are the preacher, the confessor, the physician, the valet of the chamber, the steward. The apostolic preacher (Pontificia aulas orator, Concatenator Palatii Apostolici), who is a Capuchin, was instituted with the bull Inctyrum Fratrum Minorum of Benedict XIV of 2 March 1743. He preaches in the throne room on the Wednesdays of Advent and every Friday of Lent to the Supreme Pontiff, who listens to him behind a screen; to the Sacred College, to the bishops and to the prelates of the Curia. The confessor of the family is a theologian, a religious, a professor of the Order of the Servants of Mary, by brief of Clement XIII dated 17 Jan. 1762. At present he exercises his office when the pontifical family gathers in the Vatican, to receive Holy Communion there from the hands of the pope. The physician of His Holiness was in ancient times designated with the particular qualification of archiater or pontifical archiater (v.). The valet of the chamber serves the anointed person of the Supreme Pontiff in his private rooms: he also belongs to the class of the cubiculars. A famous valet of the chamber was Gaetano Moroni, author of the Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica (Venice 1840-79). The secret steward (this office has been vacant since 1923) supervised everything concerning the pontifical domestic table, also serving at the solemn dinners of the Supreme Pontiff. At times he combined the office of secret master of the household of the pope.
15. The bussolanti, so called from the word bussola, which from the 17th century indicates the door of the palatine hall, are other attendants of the pontifical antechamber, where they have court duties. Gregory XVI in 1832 united them into a single class and distinguished them into participating and supernumerary. The office of bussolante is for life. Last of the pontifical familiars is the dean of the hall (magistice palafrenariae), head of the palafrenieri and of the sedieri (bearers of the pontifical chair), who serve in the first pontifical antechamber.
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Guglielmo Felici