Corps Of Gendarmerie Of Vatican City
The Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Città del Vaticano (English: Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City State) is the gendarmerie, or police and security force, of Vatican City and the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See.The corps is responsible for security, public order, border control, traffic control, criminal investigation, and other general police duties in Vatican City including providing security for the pope outside of Vatican City. The corps has 130 personnel and is a part of the Security and Civil Defense Services Department (which also includes the Vatican Fire Brigade), an organ of the Governorate of Vatican City.
The corps is led by an Inspector General, currently Domenico Giani, who replaced the long-serving Camillo Cibin in June, 2006.
From 1991–2002 the police force of the Vatican City was called Corpo di Vigilanza dello Stato della Città del Vaticano, and from 1970–1991 it was known as the Central Security Office. This replaced the previous Corpo della Gendarmeria, which was founded by Pope Pius VII in 1816 and was a unit in the military of Vatican City until Pope Paul VI reduced the Holy See's military to only the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
Prior to 1970 the former Corpo della Gendarmeria wore elaborate ceremonial uniforms of nineteenth century origin, while the present-day gendarmerie wear dark blue modern police uniforms.
To qualify as a gendarme, a person must be between the ages of 20 to 25, hold Italian citizenship, and have at least two years of training in Italian policework.
Since 1977, the oratory of San Pellegrino in Vaticano serves as the chapel of the Gendarmerie. The church previously served as the chapel of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
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