Papal household
The papal household or pontifical household (usually not capitalized in the media and other nonofficial use, ), called until 1968 the Papal Court ("Aula Pontificia"), consists of dignitaries who assist the pope 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. Modern organisation. Papal Chapel. The  Papal Chapel consists of ecclesiastics who participate in religious ceremonies wearing their liturgical vestments or the dress proper to their rank and office. 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 from Avignon, these solemn public functions were held in the Sistine Chapel or, on days of special solemnity, in Saint Peter's Basilica. The liturgical celebration ceased to be daily in the course of the nineteenth century. The motu proprio "Pontificalis Domus" of 1968 abolished some  of the titles borne by various groups that had membership in the Papal Chapel. At present its membership consists of the members of the Papal Family or Household in the narrow sense ("Familia Pontificalis", not "Domus Pontificalis") and in addition: Papal Family ("Familia Pontificalis"). The members of this body are subdivided into two groups: ecclesiastic and lay. The ecclesiastics who have membership are: The lay members are: History. Papal Court. In the Papal States, from medieval times, the papal 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", "sacellarius, praelatini palatini, bibliothecarius, scutiferi, cancellarius," protonotaries", primicerius, secundicerius, defensor, and many more." Reform of Paul VI. On March 28, 1968, Pope Paul VI reorganized the Papal Court with an apostolic letter "motu proprio", renaming it the "Papal Household" (). In changing the name from what it had been for some centuries, Paul VI said he was returning an "original and noble" name. Moreover, many positions were consolidated into new ones or altogether abolished. According to the "motu 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." In the Papal Chapel, the following positions were altered or suppressed: Palatine Cardinals ("Cardinali Palatini"); prelates "di fiocchetto"; Prince-Assistants to the Throne ("Principi assistenti al Soglio"); Majordomo of His Holiness; the Interior Minister; Commander of "Santo Spirito"; Roman Magistrate; Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice; Chamberlains of Honor "in abito paonazzo"; Secret Chaplains and Secret Chaplains of Honor; Secret Clerics; Confessor of the Pontifical Family; Candle-Carrying Acolytes ("Ceroferari"); Common Papal Chaplains; Porter-Masters of the "Virga Rubea"; Guardian of  the Sacred Tiara; Mace-Bearer; and Apostolic Messenger ("Cursori Apostolici"). Of these offices, the suppressed offices of Secret Chaplain and Secret Chaplain of Honor, Secret Cleric, Acolyte "Ceroferari", Common Papal Chaplain, and Porter-Masters of the "Virga Rubea" were consolidated under the general title of "Cleric of the Papal Chapel". 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; the Hereditary 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 the Golden Rose; Secretary to Embassies; "Esente" of the Noble Guard of Service; Chamberlains of Honor "in abito paonazzo"; Chamberlains of Honor "extra Urbem"; Secret Chaplains and Secret Chaplains of Honor; Secret Chaplains of Honor "extra Urbem"; Secret Clerics; Common Papal Chaplains; Confessor of the Pontifical Family; and Secret Steward ("Scalco Segreto"). The Master of the Sacred Palace (the Pope's Dominican theologian) has been renamed Theologian of the Pontifical Household. 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 the "Bussolanti" took the new name of Attachés of the Antechamber. The "Camerieri Segreti Partecipanti" were outright abolished, as was the title of Sub-Auditor ("Subdatarius"). 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 of "Monsignori" were abolished.