OFFICE OF CAMERLENGO DATES TO 12TH CENTURY

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2005 (VIS) - A student of the history of the Roman Curia, in particular the office called the Apostolic Camera, will find that, as early as the 11th century, the term "camera thesauraria" (treasure chamber) appeared, describing an office set up to administer the finances of the Roman Curia and the temporal goods of the Holy See. Today it performs the latter task only in the period of "sede vacante" or vacant see.

  In the 12th century, the head of that office was known as the "camerarius," or camerlengo (chamberlain) - a title which carries over to today. That same century saw the former offices of viceroy, treasurer and wardrobe guardian incorporated into this single department. In the 13th and 14th centuries it acquired judicial functions in fiscal matters as well as certain penal and civil cases.

  The camerlengo of Holy Roman Church (to be distinguished from the camerlengo of the College of Cardinals) was often a cardinal, but this became mandatory only in the 15th century. Then - as now - he was assisted by a vice-camerlengo, a general auditor and chamber clerks, called Cleric Prelates. Today there is also a notary.

  The current camerlengo of Holy Roman Church is Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo. He was born March 31, 1927 in Banos de Rio Tobia in the diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logrono. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul on June 28, 1988, and was appointed camerlengo on April 5, 1993.

  In the early centuries the camerlengo, individual clerks and chamber auditor had acquired specific competencies and presided over special tribunals, though the "camera plena" or full chamber functioned as a collegial court. Throughout the 19th century the Camera was above all a tribunal for the pontifical state. With his Apostolic Constitution "Sapienti Consilio" of June 29, 1908, Pope St. Pius X confirmed the Apostolic Camera in its functions of temporal power which it had exercised in the past.

  With Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution "Regimini Ecclesiae Universae" of August 15, 1967, the Apostolic Camera, presided over by the Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, or if he is impeded, by the vice-camerlengo, preserved the function of caring for and administering the temporal goods and rights of the Holy See during the period of "sede vacante," that is, between the death of one Pope and the election of his successor.

  A reconfirmation of these special duties came with John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution "Pastor Bonus" of June 28, 1988.

  As confirmed by Pope John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis" of February 1996, the camerlengo of Holy Roman Church and the major penitentiary are the only two heads of curial offices whose functions do not cease during the "sede vacante." In fact, those of the camerlengo actually increase during this period.
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