Sediarii Pontificii
They are the Pope’s household staff who attend to ceremonial duties and carry the Holy Father in the sedia gestatoria on solemn occasions. In the latter capacity they receive the signal to start from the *florire maggiore*.
They are somewhat related to the *lecticarii* used in the Roman world, especially in the imperial age and throughout the Middle Ages until the 18th century, when litters gave way to carriages. In sacred ceremonies the litter was replaced by the *scamnium*, or *sella*, or *sellare*, whence the name *sellarii* for those who carried the Pope on their shoulders (cf. *Ordo Romanus I*, 4-5: PL 78, 939; *Ordo Rom. II*, 2: ibid., 699).
The establishment of a proper corps of knights called *sediarii pontificii* to carry the Pope in the sedia gestatoria is traced to Pius IV, yet both the use of the sedia gestatoria and the existence of such a corps are older. Their presence is seen in Raphael’s frescoes, as in *The Miracle of Bolsena* and *The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple*. They do not, however, appear as a separate listing in the rolls of the papal household under Leo X or Pius IV, but are known instead as *parafrenarii* or general household attendants (*famuli*). Thus they are called *famuli* in the taking of possession of Alexander VII (*sublimis gestatus, subcollantibus famulis purpurea toga conspicuis*: F. Cancellieri, *Storia dei solenni possessi*, Rome 1822, p. 272; cf. also p. 146, note 2), and *parafrenarii* under Paul III in 1533 (op. cit., p. 92) and again under Pius VIII (op. cit., p. 480). The *sediarii pontificii* and the *parafrenarii* also formed a confraternity together and, from the time of Pius IV (1565), had their own church: S. Anna dei Parafrenieri within the Vatican, which after 1929, upon the erection of the church as a parish, was exchanged for S. Caterina della Rota.
At present there are 14 *sediarii pontificii*, besides the dean (or dean of the hall [in *Ann. Pont.* 1952, p. 937]) and the subdean, assisted by some supernumeraries, two hall attendants, and extraordinary or substitute members (especially during Holy Years). They wear a livery: black for the dean and subdean, and red for the rest. The livery, consisting of a long-skirted coat and knee-breeches with long shoulder lappets called *ali*, is of crimson velvet with satin sleeves, in a Renaissance design deposited with the Apostolic Camera; in summer it is of crimson damask with sleeves of “nobility” silk, always on the same design, bearing the reigning Pope’s coat of arms on the breast. Nowadays the uniform coat of arms of the Holy See—with the keys and tiara—is used for all popes, though liveries with the arms of Pius VI to Pius IX are preserved. Besides the livery they wear matching shoes, a shirt, and appropriate footwear. Formerly they were under the Prefecture of the Apostolic Palaces; today they are under the Master of the Chamber, through the Master of the Household, who supervises and coordinates their service. Their duties include hall attendance and antechamber service; they are therefore part of the hall staff. They serve in rotation at private and special audiences, general audiences, and assist the Pope at the most solemn functions (pontificals, receptions); day and night they remain near the Pope’s person. Formerly two kept watch before the papal private apartments, and even today one of them sleeps in immediate proximity to the papal apartment so as to be ready at any call. They belong to the papal household (*v.*) and are therefore also called “familiars.”