Abbreviator

Abbreviators (Latin ) were the most important officials of the papal chancery. They were mainly since 1350, responsible for the preparation of the drafts of the papal bulls. In addition, they worked well independently simple justice matters. For the first time they are mentioned in a bull of Benedict XII. from the first half of the 14th century.

Poggio Bracciolini, who came to the Roman Curia in 1403, was active as a abbreviator. The Abbreviatorenkolleg founded by Pius II and Sixtus IV revived disbanded Pope Pius X in 1908 and transferred the responsibilities to the Apostolic Proto notaries.