Swords of Papal Knights, Palatine Guard, Members of the Papal Court

Swords have long been a staple at papal liturgies. They are part of the formal dress of courtiers and security forces of the popes. They are often de rigueur, required by etiquette and fashion. Those who carry the swords are not necessarily armigerous. Sometimes they might include knighted ambassadors or at other times humble men who may have certain ties to the Papal Household. In the olden days this included Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword (Cameriere Segreti di Spada e Cappa) and to this day it includes certain knights with papal orders. 

Walking through the streets of Rome these old swords can sometimes be found in antique shops on streets like Via dei Coronari or Via dei Banchi Nuovi. In Italian the swords are called a spadino cerimoniale. It is a bit sad to see them collecting dust in a display case. Each one is a blessed object. They were intended for ceremonial use in papal liturgies. The should be passed down from father to son, kept in the family. 

Each ceremonial sword seen in the Vatican is a work of art. Typically they might be designed with a three-threaded blade etched with decorations made from acid etching, such as a flower cluster known as racemes. The hilt is generally gilded bronze with mother-of-pearl grip. The pelta section will have charged on it some important emblem such as a cross or the the papal emblem, the tiara with crossed keys, symbolic of the papacy. Swords are kept in black leather scabbards with gilded brass fittings. There is generally a strap and sling woven in golden thread. The length is generally about 110 cm. 

The Roman Pontifical until the revision of 1961 included a blessing for the sword. This makes sense as the Pontifical was a compilation of texts and rubrics that had been collected from old sacramentaries and other sources. The blessing of the sword was included in Clement VIII's edition. The blessing, a liturgical service dating from Medieval times, is ancient in origin and perhaps was sourced from the Ordines Romani, early collections of documents for sacraments, rites, and blessings of sacramentals, etc. 

Of course everyone with an imagination loves swords. They are shiny with gold and silver, a delight to the eye. Strong men carry swords to defend the weak and repel the enemy. Swords have a practical use. The same with ceremonial swords. There will always be dragons to slay. Let us preserve and foster these traditions even in a world that brings them into contest just because. 

Finally, each sword is a work of art with a flash of shining steel. They are usually made with a gold hilt, a grip in mother of pearl, and on the sputcheon (the mouthpiece of the sword-scabbard), is generally displayed an emblem, badge, or coat-of-arms of the order. There is also often a sword-knot in gold with a tassel and sometimes a stripe of cloth of gold running the length of the scabbard. 

Ceremonial swords were not long, as seen here on the right, compared to standard military swords.

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