The Bussolante of the Papal Court

For generations papal liturgies were enriched with the presence of the bussolanti who walked in the papal processions. Images in color are rare of the bussolante courtiers (plural bussolanti) in their pontifical Spanish dress from the time of Philip II. They were attendants in the pope's antechamber, members of the Papal Household. Their main role was to be ushers and their court dress had a violet trim in velvet that identified their rank. Their title came from the Latin word buxis, meaning "box." They were divided into participants and supernumeraries. Bussola also means "sedan chair."

Above is an image of one of the last generation of bussolante, a distinguished member of the college of His Holiness's antechamber attendants, Gianpietro Nattino, who went on to be a bank president at Banca Finnat. This was an oil on canvas painting by Giuseppe Tedeschi that was completed in 2017 and is kept at the family castle of Gave Ligure in Piedmont, the north of Italy. His father before him had also been a member of the Papal Court, a Cameriere Segreto di Spada e Cappa. To have a distinguished service at the service of the popes is a fair and appropriate contribution to Vatican life, a part of family history, and tradition and a great privilege.

The clergy version - those who carry the tiara, seen below. Perhaps one day this custom will make a comeback in days of clearer thinking?

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