Hereditary officers of the Roman Curia

The Roman Court or Papal Curia was reformed by the Bull Pontificalis Domus of 1969. This abolished the role of the old Roman nobility at the Papal Court with the exception of the position of Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne. These titles (such as the Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice, Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred Conclave, etc.) are now purely honorary (though still hereditary).

This position had been shared jointly by the Princes Orsini and Colonna, but the former was deprived by Pius XII after obtaining a divorce and the title was conferred upon Prince Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Canino and Musignano of the Torlonia Family.

The Prince Assistants are representatives of the Roman nobility, who serve at the feet of the Throne immediately next to the Cardinal Deacon who stands to the right of the Pope. They alternate office during their lifetimes and no-one can substitute for them.

Their principal function is to serve on the occasion of official visits by a Head of state.

The reforms of 1969 also changed the names and abolished the differing categories of Secret Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword to Gentlemen of His Holiness. Other offices were abolished altogether, but office holders were reassigned.

Office holders

Great officers

• Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne (hereditary):
  • Prince Don Alessandro Torlonia
  • Prince Don Marcantonio Colonna, Prince and Duke of Paliano, Duke of Mariano
• Marshal of the Holy Roman Church and the Sacred Conclave (non-hereditary):
  • Prince Don Sigismondo Chigi-Albani della Rovere, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince of Farnese, Campagnano, and Soriano, Duke of Ariccia and Formello
• Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice (hereditary):
  • Prince Ruspoli
• Hereditary Quartermaster General of the Sacred Apostolic Palace (hereditary):
  • Marquess Giulio Sacchetti, Marquess of Castel Romano (highest ranking laymen in the Vatican service as Delegate of the State of the City of the Vatican)
• Cavallerizzo Maggiore (Superintendent of the stables of the Palaces) (hereditary):
  • Marquess Gregorio Serlupi Crescenzi
• Superintendent of the Posts (hereditary):
  • Prince Don Filippo Massimo, Prince and Lord of Arsoli, Duke of Anticoli Corrado
• Keeper of the Golden Rose (destined for members of royal houses) (non-hereditary)

Papal guards

• Captain Commander of the Noble Guard (not hereditary, but always a Roman prince with the rank of Lieutenant General):
  • last holders included Princes Altieri, Aldobrandini, Barberini, Rospigliosi).
• Standard Bearer of the Holy Roman Church (hereditary, with the rank of Lieutenant-General)
  • Marquess Patrizio Patrizi Naro Montoro, Marquess of the Baldacchino
• Commandant of the Palatine Guard (non-hereditary)
• Captain Commander of the Swiss Guard (not hereditary, but always a Swiss man):
  • Christoph Graf

See also

• Prefecture of the Pontifical Household

Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See
Equestrian orders of the Holy See	Supreme Order of Christ Order of the Golden Spur Order of Pope Pius IX Order of St. Gregory the Great Order of Saint Sylvester
Distinctions	Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Benemerenti medal Golden Rose Jerusalem Pilgrim's Cross
Chivalric orders under protection of the Holy See (with distinctions)	Sovereign Military Order of Malta ( Order pro merito Melitensi, Medal of the Order pro Merito Melitensi) Order of the Holy Sepulchre ( Palm of Jerusalem, Pilgrim Shell, Cross of Merit) Teutonic Order ( Honorary Knights)
Defunct/dormant distinctions (1870, 1954, 1977)	Order of Saint John of the Lateran Order of Saint Cecilia (1870) Order of the Moor (1870) Order of Saint Sylvester and the Militia Aurata (1905) Advocates of Saint Peter (1909) Blessed sword and hat (1823) Medal of Military Merit Fidei et Virtuti Pro Petri Sede Lauretan Cross (middle part of the 20th Century) Papal Lateran Cross (1977)
See also	Papal Household Swiss Guard Catholic chivalric orders
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