Congregation of Ceremonies

Pope Sixtus V, founder of the Congregation of Ceremonies

The Sacred Congregation of Ceremonies was a branch of the Roman Curia that is charged with the direction of all the papal ceremonies, as well as of the ceremonial of cardinals, whether in the pontifical court

History and Functions

It is not certain who created this congregation. Many attribute its establishment to Pope Sixtus V, however others to his immediate predecessor, Pope Gregory XIII. Some historians speculate that the latter opinion is proved to be correct by the records of the congregation itself. If this is the case, the error of certain authors is apparent, when they consider this congregation to be little more than a branch of the Congregation of Rites or to have derived its existence from the latter.

It is, on the contrary, more ancient than the last-named congregation, and deals directly with the highest division of the Liturgy, considering the personages whom it concerns. For this congregation is charged with the direction of all the papal ceremonies, as well as of the ceremonial of cardinals, whether in the Pontifical Court (aula) or chapel. It is reasonable that a special congregation should have under its care ceremonies so august and solemn, since it is of the highest importance that when the supreme head of the Church participates in ecclesiastical functions attended by the most illustrious dignitaries of the Church. All should be in keeping with that decorum which befits their character and that nature of the office they hold. As in all courts there is a grand master of ceremonies, charged with the direction of the sovereign's acts on occasions of State, so it was necessary that at the pontifical Court there should be an authority to preside over such functions. This requirement is supplied by the Congregation of Ceremonies, which, besides the direction of liturgical functions, is charged with the direction of the pontifical court ceremonial for the reception of sovereigns or of ambassadors.

It also communicated instructions to the legates of the Holy See for the maintenance of due decorum in transacting the affairs of their missions. This congregation also instructed the members of the Noble Guard and the ablegate who were sent to convey to new cardinals, living in Catholic states outside of Rome, the news of their promotion, together with the cardinal's hat and the red biretta. It instructs newly-promoted cardinals, too, on the etiquette to be followed conformably with their new dignity. Finally, it solves the questions of precedence which arise among cardinals or among ambassadors to the Holy See.

It was dissolved in 1967 in the Curial reforms by Pope Paul VI.

Prefects since 1884

• Carlo Sacconi (28 Mar 1884 – 25 Feb 1889)
• Raffaele Monaco La Valletta (1 Mar 1889 – 14 Jul 1896)
• Serafino Vannutelli (14 Mar 1889 – 19 Aug 1915)
• Luigi Oreglia di Santo Stefano ( 1897 – 7 Dec 1913)
• Vincenzo Vannutelli (15 Dec 1914 – 9 Jul 1930)
• Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte (14 Jul 1930 – 16 Feb 1948)
• Francesco Marchetti-Selvaggiani (5 Feb 1948 – 13 Jan 1951 )
• Eugène-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Tisserant (10 Mar 1951 – 1967)

Bibliography

• Günther Wassilowsky, Hubert Wolf: Päpstliches Zeremoniell in der Frühen Neuzeit – Das Diarium des Zeremonienmeisters Paolo Alaleone de Branca während des Pontifikats Gregors XV. (1621–1623). Rhema-Verlag, Münster 2007, ISBN 978-3-930454-80-8 (with the complete original Latin text of the diarium)