Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 15.djvu/345

 VATICAN

299

VATICAN

igan carvings, which were exhibited along the walls ider the inscriptions, received an unusual increase. lie reduction of the stud was begun under Leo XIII id completed under Pius X, so that the pope now issesses comparatively few horses. The extremely rict discipline which Pius X has introduced into all anches of the Vatican administration, has met with lendid success.

XII. The Juridical and Hygienic Boards of [E Vatican.— Experience has proved it necessary at the Curia should maintain a tribunal before lich all legal disputes relating in any way to the itican administration might be decided. The alian courts are in such cases powerless and ineffi- cious, because their jurisdiction ceases at the lace gates. As there must ever be recriminations lerever there .are numerous relations with the mmercial world, where there are crowds of clerks d great circulation of money, two "Commissioni elatizie per decretare intorno alle controvcrsie e con- stazioni con le amministrazioni palatine" were ?ated by Decree of 20 Februar)-, 18S2, to decide all lims made against the Curial administration. The le pos.sesses a juristic interest: the official bodies are lied commissioni, not tribunali; decretare, and not idicnrc or decidere, is used; and the processes are rmcd conlroversie and contestazioni. Although the ?cree manifestly avoids giving the name of court of 5tice to the new institution, it is such de facto. The o commissions then created are each composed of ree prelates, who have the decision of processes both first and also in second instance. The court of ird instance is formed by the union of the other two der the presidency of the general auditor of the )ostolic Chamber. .\11 the prelates have a legal lining, and in each of the first two courts are a presi- nt and two colleagues. Each court has a prelate petitioner and a secretary. It is a notable feature at, for the execution of all judgments which are thing is provided.
 * ally given against the Vatican administration,

The procedure of these courts is as follows: The ocess is begun by written documents placed in the nds of the president. The defendant lodges a itten answer within a certain interval, after which rther pleas and counterpleas may continue. On the nclusion of the wTitten explanations or after the piration of a certain interval, during which no fur- ?r countenjleas are forthcoming, the decision is ,'en and pubhshed by exhibition in the Secretariate, le interval for appeal is six months, dating from the y of the publication of judgment. These courts iploy every means to establish the facts as they actu- y are: the examination of witnesses, the adminis- ition of oaths, decisive or supplementary oaths, the imination of ex7)erts, etc. The costs of court are plated on the basis of the provisions of the Papal utes. The tribunal of the prefecture, of which the tnpetence cannot be exactly established, has an juisitor and a secretary. Before this court are ard criminal charges.

The sanitary .service and the hygienic department re reorganized on 14 Xoveniber, 1893. In accord- ce with modern requirements, exhaustive mca<;ures re taken in all matters connected with these depart- mts. In particular the water service was thor- ghly renovated. The sanitary corps is under the •ection of the physician in ordinary to the pope, der whom also stand five other physicians and some iistants. Two of the physicians are appointed • day duty, and two for night; the fifth attends the 'iss Guards. The assistants represent the phj'si- ins, when these are unable to attend, but on solemn occasions, when an unusually great num- r of persons assemble, they must (like the physi- ins) be always in attendance. The sanitary servTCe d hygienic department are subordinate to the

Prefecture of the Apostolic Palaces. The Vatican dispensary, which was formerly in the Cortile di San Damaso, was recently tran.sferred to the quarters of the Swiss Guards, and lies at the door of the Torrione di Nicolo V which leads to the city. Consequently it is easily accessible to the inhabitants of the Borgo, who avail themselves very freely of it. It is entrusted to three Brothers of Mercy, and deUvers all medicines at the rates appointed by the urban council of Rome in favour of the poor. A list hanging up in the dis- pensary shows to what residents and servants of the palace medicines are to be given gratis.

XIII. The Policing of the Vatican. — There is within the Vatican a weU-organized service of police and guards. Mihtary and poUce bodies protect persons and property, and the fire department pre- vents damage from fire. The special mihtary guard- ians of the palace are the Swiss Guards; entrusted with the specifically police duties are the gendarmes. The Palatine Guards are rather a guard of honour, and the Noble Guard a mounted bodyguard with very limited service. The fire brigade is formed by the Guardie del Fuoco. In view of the peculiar political position of the pope in Rome, the careful guarding of the Vatican presents special difficulties; but, despite the objectionable attitude of the Italian pohce commissioners in the Borgo, few contretemps are to be complained of. For among the gi-eat throngs to the papal assemblages there are always some ready to seize the opportunity to create a disturbance, if the slightest pretext offers itself.

A. The Swiss Guards. — The commander of the Swiss has the rank of a colonel of the regular troops and is addressed with this title. The other officers, therefore, have a rank three grades higher than their name indicates, and all the guards without exception possess the rank of sergeant in the regular troops. The quartermaster acts also as secretary of the com- manding officer and as ordnance officer. The corps has its special chaplain and chapel, SS. Martino e Se- bastiano (see above, section V), built by Pius V in 1.568. Every candidate for the Guards must be a native Swiss, a Catholic, of legitimate birth, un- married, under twenty-five years of age, at least five feet and eight inches in height, healthy, and free from bodily disfigurements. Whoever is not eligible for militarj' service in Switzerland, is Ukewise refused ad- mission into the Guards. The following papers are required: a certificate from his home (or a pass), bap- tismal certificate, and testimonial as to character, all signed by the authorities of his parish. After a year of good conduct the cost of the journey to Rome is re- funded; this refund may, however, be paid in instal- ments after a period of seven months. Applications for admission are to be addressed directly to the com- manding officer. Those who wish to retire from the Guards may freely do so after giving three months' notice. After eighteen years' service each member of the Guards is entitled to a pension for life amounting to one-half of his pay, after twenty years to a ix>nsion amounting to two-thirds of his pay, after twenty-five years to five-sixths of his pay, and after thirty years to his full pay.

The duties of the Guards are as follows: They are responsible for the guarding of the sacred person of the pope and the protection of the Apostolic Palaces, all exits from the jjalace to the city and the entrance doors to the papal apartments being entrusted to their charge. They have also to take up their position in all pontifical functions in the papal chapels and in all other rehgious functions both within and without the .4postolic Palaces (the latter are now confined to St. Peter's) at which the pope assists. They have also other duties regulated by ancient traditions or more recent decrees. In addition, they have to appear for service at the order of the prefect of the Apostolic Palaces (the majordomo) and the maestro di camera.