The

gonfalonier The Gonfalonier (in Italian: ''Gonfaloniere'') was the holder of a highly prestigious communal office in medieval and Renaissance Italy, notably in Florence and the Papal States. The name derives from ''gonfalone'' (in English, gonfalon), the ter ...

of the Church or papal gonfalonier ( it, Gonfaloniere della Chiesa, "

standard-bearer A standard-bearer, also known as a flag-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a ...

"; la, Vexillifer Ecclesiæ) was a military and political office of the

Papal States The Papal States ( ; it, Stato Pontificio, ), officially the State of the Church ( it, Stato della Chiesa, ; la, Status Ecclesiasticus;), were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope fro ...

. Originating from the use of the Papal banner during combat, the office later became largely ceremonial and political. At his nomination, the gonfalonier was given two banners, one with the arms of the Church (''vexillum cum armis Ecclesiæ'') and another with the arms of the reigning

pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

(''cum armis suis''). The gonfalonier was entitled to include ecclesiastical emblems (the Keys of St. Peter and the ombrellino) upon his own arms, usually only during his term of office but on occasion permanently.

Pope Innocent XII Pope Innocent XII ( la, Innocentius XII; it, Innocenzo XII; 13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), born Antonio Pignatelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 July 1691 to his death in September 1700. He ...

ended the rank, along with the captaincy general, and replaced them both with the position of flag-bearer of the Holy Roman Church ( it, Vessilifero di Santa Romana Chiesa), which later became hereditary in the Naro Patrizi.

List of gonfaloniers of the Church

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonfalonier of the Church Papal States military personnel 1059 establishments in Europe 11th-century establishments in Italy 1689 disestablishments in the Papal States 11th-century establishments in the Papal States

List of gonfaloniers of the Church

See also

References