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Bicentenary of the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State Scott 1622-1623 (2016) On May 10, 2016, Vatican City issued a two-stamp set to commemorate the bicentenary of the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State. The stamps illustrate members of the Corps: the 0.95 euro stamp shows a member in a ceremonial uniform, and the 1.00 euro stamp shows a member in contemporary garb. The Gendarmerie Corps is a police and security force responsible for the protection of Vatican City proper, as well as the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See. The Corp was founded in 1816 by Pope Pius VII, following the restoration of the Papal States after the dissolution of the Napoleonic empire. Originally called the Papal Carabinieri Corps, it was renamed in 1849, first as the Papal Velites Regiment and then as the Papal Gendarmerie Corps. The Corps was charged with ensuring public security and was not viewed as a military unit, and its oversight passed from the Ministry of the Army to the Cardinal Secretary of State. However, it played a role in the battles that led to the conquest of the Papal States by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870. Following the capture of Rome, a small group of Corps members continued to provide protection of the papal residence and the gardens. With the founding of the Vatican City State in 1929, the Corps was expanded and assumed duties in the Vatican City State, in its buildings and in other areas over which the Holy See had extraterritorial rights. In 1970 Pope Paul VI abolished all Vatican military services (for example, the Palatine Guards). The Swiss Guards continued their service for the protection of the pope, and the Gendarmerie was transformed into a Central Security Office. Its duties were focused on defending Vatican City and providing police and security services within its territory. Since 1970, the Corps has undergone a few name changes, first to the Security Corps of Vatican City State in 1991, and then to the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State in 2002. Currently, the Gendarmerie consists of about 130 members. While the protection of the Pope's person is primarily the Swiss Guard's responsibility, the Gendarmes ensure public order at the audiences, meetings, and ceremonies at which he is present. The Corps is also responsible for security, public order, border control, traffic control, criminal investigation, and other general police duties in Vatican City. Fortunately, crime is not a major issue in Vatican City—in 2015 the Gendarmes made a total of eight (8) arrests. REFERENCES: |
