Thepapal household orpontifical household (usually not capitalized in the media and other nonofficial use,^[1]Latin:Pontificalis Domus), called until 1968 thePapal Court (Aula Pontificia),^[2] consists of dignitaries who assist thepope in carrying out particular ceremonies of either a religious or a civil character.

It is organised into two bodies: the Papal Chapel (Cappella Pontificia), which assists the pope in his functions as the spiritual head of the church, especially in religious ceremonies; and the Papal Family or Household (Familia Pontificia), which assists him as head of a juridical body with civil functions.^[3]

The Papal Household is a section of theRoman Curia. ThePrefecture of the Papal Household is the office in charge of the Papal Household.^[4]

The Papal Chapel consists of ecclesiastics who participate in religious ceremonies wearing their liturgical vestments or the dress proper to their rank and office.^[5]

Historically, chanted divine service was held daily in the papal palace, with the Pope in person celebrating or assisting at Pontifical Mass on certain days. After the return of the popes fromAvignon, these solemn public functions were held in theSistine Chapel or, on days of special solemnity, inSaint Peter's Basilica. The liturgical celebration ceased to be daily in the course of the nineteenth century.^[5] Themotu proprioPontificalis Domus of 1968 abolished some of the titles borne by various groups that had membership in the Papal Chapel.^[a] At present its membership consists of the ecclesiastical members of the Papal Family in the narrow sense (Familia Pontificalis, notDomus Pontificalis) and in addition:^{[7]: 1232–1233}

1. TheCollege of Cardinals
2. Thepatriarchs
3. Thearchbishops who head dicasteries of theRoman Curia
4. TheVice Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
5. The secretaries of the dicasteries of theRoman Curia
6. The regent of theApostolic Penitentiary
7. The secretary of theSupreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
8. The dean of the Tribunal of theRoman Rota
9. The superiors of the pontifical commissions
10. Theabbot ofMontecassino and the abbots general ofcanons regular andmonastic orders
11. The superior general or, in his absence, the procurator general of themendicant orders
12. Theprelate auditors of the Tribunal of theRoman Rota
13. The members of thechapters of theVatican Basilica, theLateran Archbasilica, and theLiberian Basilica
14. The parish priests (pastors) of Rome
15. The (two) clerics of the Papal Chapel
16. Those in the personal service of the Pope

The members of this body are subdivided into two groups: ecclesiastic and lay.^[b]

The ecclesiastics who have membership are:^[7]: 1233

1. TheSubstitute of theSecretariat of State
2. TheSecretary for Relations with States
3. TheAlmoner of His Holiness
4. The President of thePontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
5. TheTheologian of the Pontifical Household
6. The College of theApostolic Protonotaries Participating
7. The Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotaries
8. The PapalMasters of Ceremonies (Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff)
9. TheHonorary Prelates of His Holiness
10. TheChaplains of His Holiness
11. ThePreacher of the Papal household

The lay members are:^[8]

1. Assistants at the Throne
2. The General Counsellor of the State ofVatican City
3. The Commandant of thePapal Swiss Guard
4. The Counsellors of the State of Vatican City
5. The President of thePontifical Academy of Sciences
6. TheGentlemen of His Holiness
7. TheProcurators of the Apostolic Palaces
8. TheAttachés of the Antechamber
9. Those in the personal service of the Pope
10. TheAide de chambre
11. TheDean of the Hall of the Papal Antechamber

By the late Middle Ages it was the most sophisticated bureaucracy in Europe.^[9] In thePapal States, from medieval times, thepapal nobility formed a part of the Papal Court. The roles and positions in the papal household and court evolved and changed over time, and included hostiarii,vestararius,vicedominus,nomenclator,cubiculario (chamberlain),sacellarius, praelatini palatini, bibliothecarius, scutiferi, cancellarius, protonotaries, primicerius, secundicerius, defensor, and many more.^[10][11][12]

On March 28, 1968,Pope Paul VI reorganized the Papal Court with an apostolic lettermotu proprio, renaming it the "Papal Household" (Latin:Pontificalis Domus). In changing the name from what it had been for some centuries, Paul VI said he was returning an "original and noble" name.^[13] Moreover, many positions were consolidated into new ones or altogether abolished. According to themotu proprio: "Many of the offices entrusted to members of the Papal Household were deprived of their function, continuing to exist as purely honorary positions, without much correspondence to concrete needs of the times."^[13]

In the Papal Chapel, the following positions were altered or suppressed: Palatine Cardinals (Cardinali Palatini); prelatesdi fiocchetto;Prince-Assistants to the Throne (Principi assistenti al Soglio);Majordomo of His Holiness; the Interior Minister; Commander ofSanto Spirito; Roman Magistrate; Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice; Chamberlains of Honorin abito paonazzo; Secret Chaplains and Secret Chaplains of Honor; Secret Clerics; Confessor of the Pontifical Family; Candle-Carrying Acolytes (Ceroferari); Guardian of the Sacred Tiara; Mace-Bearer; andApostolic Messenger (Cursori Apostolici).^[14] Of these offices, the suppressed offices of Secret Chaplain and Secret Chaplain of Honor, Secret Cleric, AcolyteCeroferari, Common Papal Chaplain, and Porter-Masters of theVirga Rubea were consolidated under the general title of "Cleric of the Papal Chapel".^[15]

The Papal Family underwent even more radical changes. Abolished and considered were the following titles: the Palatine prelates (i.e., Majordomo of His Holiness, Master of the Chamber [Maestro di Camera], Auditor of His Holiness);Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice; theHereditary Quartermaster General of the Sacred Apostolic Palace (Foriere Maggiore);Master of the Horse to His Holiness (Cavallerizzo Maggiore di Sua Santità);General Superintendent of Posts; the Keepers of theGolden Rose; Secretary to Embassies;Esente of the Noble Guard of Service; Chamberlains of Honorin abito paonazzo; Chamberlains of Honorextra Urbem; Secret Chaplains and Secret Chaplains of Honor; Secret Chaplains of Honorextra Urbem; Secret Clerics; Common Papal Chaplains; Confessor of the Pontifical Family; and Secret Steward (Scalco Segreto).^[16]

The Master of the Sacred Palace (the Pope'sDominican theologian) has been renamedTheologian of the Pontifical Household.^[17] Since 2005 the post has been held by Fr.Wojciech Giertych, a Polish Dominican. The titles of Secret Almoner and Sacristan of His Holiness were changed to Almoner of His Holiness, and Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, respectively, and the responsibilities of the Secretary to Embassies and Secretary of the Wardrobe were commuted into the office of the Prelates of the Antechamber. Domestic Prelates and Secret Chamberlains Supernumerary remained part of the Papal Family, but were henceforth to be called Prelates of Honor of His Holiness and Chaplains of His Holiness, respectively. Likewise, the Secret Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword (di cappa e spada) were retained under the title Gentlemen of His Holiness, and theBussolanti took the new name of Attachés of the Antechamber.^[18] TheCamerieri Segreti Partecipanti were outright abolished, as was the title of Sub-Auditor (Subdatarius).^[19]

There was also a change in honorific ecclesiastical titles, which were reduced to three categories: Protonotaries Apostolic (de numero and supernumerary), Prelates of Honor of His Holiness, and Chaplains of His Holiness. All the other categories ofMonsignori were abolished.^[20]

• Prefecture of the Pontifical Household
• Roman Curia
• Index of Vatican City-related articles

• (in Latin) Paul VI,Motu ProprioPontificalis Domus, 28 March 1968
• Annuario Pontificio (annual publication)
• (in French) X. Barbier de Montault,L'année liturgique a Rome, Roma 1862, p. 255

• Papal household

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