| Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church | |
|---|---|
| Camerlengo di Santa Romana Chiesa | |
.svg) Coat of arms of Kevin Farrell,Cardinal Camerlengo | |
 | |
| Papal household | |
| Style | His Eminence |
| Member of | Roman Curia Council of Cardinals |
| Reports to | The Pope |
| Appointer | The Pope |
| Term length | Appointment of a new Pope |
| Formation | 8 March 1147 |
| First holder | Jordan of S. Susanna |
| Deputy | Vice camerlengo |
Thecamerlengo of the Holy Roman Church is an office of thepapal household that administers the property and revenues of theHoly See. Formerly, his responsibilities included the fiscal administration of thePatrimony of Saint Peter. As regulated in theapostolic constitutionPastor bonus of 1988, the camerlengo is always acardinal,[1] though this was not the case prior to the 15th century.[2] Hisheraldic arms are ornamented with two keys – one gold, one silver – insaltire, surmounted by anombrellino, a canopy or umbrella of alternating red and yellow stripes. These also form part of thecoat of arms of the Holy See during a papalinterregnum (sede vacante). The camerlengo has beenKevin Farrell since his appointment byPope Francis on 14 February 2019. The vice camerlengo has been ArchbishopIlson de Jesus Montanari since 1 May 2020.[3]
Until the 11th century, theArchdeacon of Rome was responsible for the administration of the property of the Church (i.e., theDiocese ofRome), but the office's numerous ancient privileges and rights had come to make it a frequent hindrance to independent action on the part of thePope; as a result, when the last ArchdeaconHildebrand was elected to the Papacy asGregory VII in 1073, he suppressed the Archdiaconate and the prelate entrusted with the supervision of theApostolic Camera (Camera Apostolica), i.e., the possessions of the Holy See, became known as thecamerarius ("Chamberlain"). The camerarius was for centuries a central figure in the Papal court.[4][5][6] The name camerlengo was adopted later, likely after the fashion of Valois-Anjou court.[7]
It was the obligation of the camerarius to formally establish the death of the Pope. Gradually, this evolved in the theory that the camerarius, as the Chief of the Curia, should conduct normal business even after the death of the Pope, and also conduct the burial and the preparation for the new election. This process was evident with camerariusBoso Breakspeare.[5] During the longsede vacante of 1268 to 1271, the importance of the camerarius was so clear that the cardinals were ready to elect a new one if he died.[5]
Prior to the 18th century,[8] the camerlengo enjoyed an income of 10,000 to 12,000scudi a year out of theApostolic Camera. He had jurisdiction over all suits involving the Apostolic Camera, and could judge separately or in association with the Clerics of the Apostolic Camera; he was not impeded by Consistory. He has appellate jurisdiction over suits decided by the Masters of the Roads. In a narration of the 18th century, the camerlengo is the chief officer in the Apostolic Camera, the Financial Council of the Pope. In his office are the Governor of Rome (who is vice-Chancellor), The Treasurer, the Auditor, the President, the Advocate General, the Fiscal Procurator, the Commissary, and twelve Clerks of the Chamber (one with the special title of Prefect of the Grain Supply, another Prefect of Provisions, another Prefect of Prisons, and another Prefect of Roads). Each Clerk of the Chamber received around 8,000 scudi a year, representing 10% of the business that passes through his office.[9]
The powers and functions of the camerlengo were diminished considerably in the 19th century, first by the reorganisation of the papal government after the election ofPope Pius VII in 1800, then by the reorganization of the papal government after the return ofPope Pius IX from exile in 1850, and then by the loss of the Papal States in 1860 and the City of Rome in 1870. The chief beneficiary of these changes was theCardinal Secretary of State.[10] Since early in the 20th century, the offices of Secretary of State and camerlengo were held concurrently byPietro Gasparri (1916–1930),Eugenio Pacelli (1935–1939),Jean-Marie Villot (1970–1979), andTarcisio Bertone (2007–2013).Pope Francis appointed as camerlengo prelates who had not been Secretary of State:Jean-Louis Tauran (2014–2018) andKevin Joseph Farrell (2019–present).
The camerlengo is responsible for the formal determination of the death of the reigning Pope; the traditional procedure—abandoned centuries ago—was to call his baptismal name (eg"<Nomen>, dormisne?" meaning "<Name>, are you sleeping?").[a] After the Pope is declared dead, the camerlengo takes possession of theRing of the Fisherman and cuts it with shears in the presence of the cardinals. This act symbolizes the end of the late Pope's authority and prevents its use in forging documents. The camerlengo then notifies the appropriate officers of theRoman Curia and theDean of the College of Cardinals. He participates in the preparations for theconclave and the Pope's funeral.
In the past the camerlengo took possession of the Pope's last will and testament and took responsibility for revealing its contents. Now, the deceased pope's will is given to theCollege of Cardinals and its content is revealed during the first meeting of the College of Cardinals following a pope's passing. The only responsibility still in the camerlengo's hands is to safekeep the last will of the Pope until the College takes possession of it.
Until a successor Pope can be elected, during thesede vacante ('seat is vacant') period, the camerlengo serves asVatican City'sActing Sovereign. He is no longer, however, responsible broadly for the government of the Catholic Church when the papacy is vacant; that task was transferred in 1996 to theCollege of Cardinals, by theApostolic ConstitutionUniversi Dominici gregis. The camerlengo's power is extremely limited: enough to allow Church institutions to continue to operate and perform some basic functions, without making any definitive decisions or appointments that are normally reserved to the pope or his delegatee. However, to facilitate these basic functions, unlike the bulk of theRoman Curia, the camerlengo retains his office during thesede vacante period. He becomes effectively the executive director of operations for Vatican City and the Holy See, answerable to the College of Cardinals. This is primarily to carry out the College's decisions with regard to the papal funeral and the preparations for the conclave that will elect a new pope. The only other people who keep their offices during this time are theMajor Penitentiary, theArchpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, thePapal Almoner, and theVicars General for Rome andfor the Vatican City State.[12]
Those who have held the office of camerlengo are:[13][14]
Two camerlengos have been elected Pope:Gioacchino Pecci (Pope Leo XIII) in 1878 andEugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) in 1939. Two others,Cencio Savelli (elected Pope Honorius III in 1216) andRinaldo Conti di Segni (elected Pope Alexander IV in 1254) were not camerlengo at the time of their election to the papacy, Cencio having served from 1188 until 1198 and Rinaldo from 1227 until 1231.[c]
The Camerlengo was often a Cardinal, but it became a cardinalitial office only from the XV century.
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