Catholic Church. Camera apostolica

The Apostolic Camera, one of the most ancient of the offices of the Roman Curia, was originally responsible for the administration of the temporalities and revenues of the Holy See. Although the term Camera appeared for the first time in Benedict VIII's constitution Quoties illa a Nobis (24 May 1017), some authors state it was the continuation of an office that had existed and been known for a long time as palatium or fiscus under the direction of the archdeacon who remained at the head of the Camera domini papae until the suppression of the position in 1073 by Gregory VII. In the twelfth century the head of this administration was called the camerarius or camerlengo (ID VATV778-A) and the office absorbed the functions of the vestiarius (who took care of the sacred vessels and treasures of the Church), the arcarius (who administered papal finances from at least 599), and the sacellarius (who took care of expenses from about 700).

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the office acquired various judicial functions, not only in fiscal matters but in certain penal and civil cases as well. Urban V added to these with his constitution Apostolatus officium (12 Oct 1363), and Urban VI extended its competencies, even though indirectly, to all cases regarding the rights and interests of the Church of Rome and of the Papal States (constitution Apostolicae Camerase, 8 Sep 1379).

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