ThePrefecture of the Papal Household (Prefettura della Casa Pontificia) is the office in charge of thePapal Household, a section of theRoman Curia containing the Papal Chapel (Cappella Pontificia) and the Papal Family (Familia Pontificia).

The position of prefect has been vacant since ArchbishopGeorg Gänswein concluded his service on 28 February 2023.^[1]

According to the Vatican:

It is the task of the Prefecture of the Papal Household to coordinate the services of the Antechamber and to organize the official audiences granted by His Holiness to Heads of State, Heads of Government, Governmental Ministers and other dignitaries, as well as to Ambassadors who come to the Vatican to present their Letters of Credence.

The Prefecture takes care of the preparations for all audiences – private, special and general – and visits from those who are formally received by the Holy Father. It is also responsible for arranging Pontifical ceremonies – except liturgical celebrations – as well as the Spiritual Retreat of the Holy Father, the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia.

In addition, the Prefecture oversees the appropriate arrangements required each time the Holy Father leaves the Apostolic Palace to visit the city of Rome or travel within Italy.^[2]

Created by the 1967 reforms ofPope Paul VI, the Prefecture has competence for matters that once belonged to several offices that have been suppressed: the Ceremonial Congregation, the offices of the Majordomo, the Master of the Chamber, and the Master of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces, and the Heraldic Commission for the Papal Court.^[3]

It is headed by a Prefect, assisted by a Regent, each of whom serves for a term of five years.^[4]

The Prefecture runs theApostolic Palace, containing thePapal Apartments, and theVilla Barberini in the town ofCastel Gandolfo.^{[citation needed]}

The Papal Chapel has a membership that includes theCardinals, thePatriarchs, theArchbishops who head departments of the Roman Curia, and the secretaries of theCongregations.^[5]

The Papal Family has lay members as well as clergy. Among the ecclesiastics who have membership are other high officials of the Roman Curia, but also allapostolic protonotaries,Honorary Prelates andChaplains of His Holiness,^[6] while the lay members include allGentlemen of His Holiness, the Commandant of thePapal Swiss Guard and the Counsellors of the State ofVatican City.^[7]

The Papal Family includes among its members theTheologian of the Pontifical Household, since 2005 FatherWojciech Giertych,^[8] and thePreacher to the Papal Household,Roberto Pasolini,OFMCap since 2024.

The Papal Family also includes those who look after the Pope's daily household affairs, such as those who actually keep house and cook for him, including those who may act as his butler.^[9][10]

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• Gaetano Bisleti (1905–1911)
• Rafael Merry del Val (1903–1914)
• Pietro Gasparri (1914–1918)
• Giovanni Tacci Porcelli (1918–1921)
• Federico Callori di Vignale (1958–1965)
• Mario Nasalli Rocca di Corneliano (1968–1969)
• Jacques-Paul Martin (1969–1986)
• Dino Monduzzi (1986–1998)
• James Harvey (1998–2012)^[11]
  • Stanisław Dziwisz (Adjunct Prefect, 1998–2005)
• Georg Gänswein (2012^[12] – 2023)^[1]
  • Leonardo Sapienza RCJ 4 April 2012 - (regent)
    • Edward Daniang Daleng, O.S.A. 2025 - (vice regent)
• vacant 2023-present

• Hereditary officers of the Roman Curia
• Index of Vatican City-related articles

• Prefecture of the Papal Household
• Reorganization of the Papal Household in 1968
• GCatholic.org
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Maestro di Camera del Papa" .Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

• Papal household
• Departments of the Roman Curia

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