Papal Gentlemen

A Gentiluomo di Sua Santita (German: " Edelmann His Holiness ", Mz: Gentiluomini di Sua Santita, dt: " nobles of His Holiness " or " nobles of His Holiness " ) is a senior volunteer lay workers of the Papal Household. The men in a hundred belong to the papal family.

History

Before the reform of the papal household, among the Papal Chamberlains are not the clergy belonging Camerieri Segreti di Spada e Cappa Partecipanti ( " real secret chamberlain with sword and sheath "), which Camerieri Segreti di Spada e Cappa ("other secret chamberlain with sword and sheath ") and the Camerieri d' Onore di Spada e Cappa ( " Honorary treasurer with sword and sheath "). They usually wore Spanish court dress. For the most part, the members came from Italian noble families, of which perceived functions in the papal family many for quite some time.

Were from the Gentiluomini di Sua Santita through the Motu proprio entitled Pontificalis Domus of 28 March 1968.

Presence

Today the Gentiluomini wearing a black coat and a three-row gold chain of office, that is with the papal insignia, the tiara and the crossed keys of Peter, decorated (Coat of Arms of the Vatican City ).

The in Elenco ( "Directory" ) are standing Gentiluomini, unlike in the past, mostly middle-class origins. The function is not hereditary and does not end with the pontificate of Pope. The respective dignitaries are Annuario Pontifical, the pontifical yearbook listed. Among them are during their tenure also were the three highest-ranking officers of the Swiss Guard.

The nobles are the direct monitoring of the visitors of the Pope. During the four- to-one meetings they attend the wake of the visitor. This is done both in the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo. In church services in St. Peter's, they have the special guests and members of the Diplomatic Corps to the reserved seats. Also during the weekly general audiences, audiences, events and concerts in the Vatican audience hall they are the Pope to help.