The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church: A High-Ranking Official in the Papal States

The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (Italian: Camerlengo di Santa Romana Chiesa) was a high-ranking official in the Papal States who was responsible for managing the temporal assets and finances of the Holy See. The position was established in the 12th century and existed until the dissolution of the Papal States in 1870.

The Camerlengo was appointed by the Pope and was typically a member of the Roman nobility or a high-ranking church official. He was responsible for overseeing the administration of the Papal States, including the collection of taxes, the management of the papal treasury, and the maintenance of the papal palaces and other properties. The Camerlengo also played a significant role in the election of the Pope, serving as one of the officials who counted the votes of the cardinals during the conclave.

The position of Camerlengo was abolished in 1870, when the Papal States were annexed by the Kingdom of Italy and the Pope lost his temporal power. Today, the title is still used in a ceremonial capacity, with the Camerlengo serving as the head of the Pontifical Household, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the papal apartments and other papal residences.