Last modified: 2013-04-27 by rob raeside
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image by Jens Pattke, 6 October 2012
See also:
The Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Cittą del Vaticano (English:
Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City State), usually referred to as
Gendarmeria Vaticana, and from 1991 to 2002 known as Corpo di Vigilanza dello
Stato della Cittą del Vaticano is the gendarmerie, or police and security
force, of Vatican City. It was officially established on February 12, 1971 as
Ufficio Centrale di Vigilanza (Central Security Office) and it is part of
Interpol since October 7, 2008.
Its origins date back to the Corpo dei Carabinieri Pontifici (Papal
Carabineers Corp), dependent to the Ministro delle Armi (Ministry of the
Army), established under Pope Pius VII, in 1816 after the reestablishment of
the Stati della Chiesa or Papal States as a result of the
Congress of Vienna (1814-1815). In 1849 Pope Pius IX transformed it into the Reggimento
dei Veliti Pontifici (Papal Security Regiment). Then in 1970, Pope Paul VI
first through a letter dated September 14, 1970, then by Law No. LXVII of
December 15, suppressed all military corps, except the
Swiss Guard. And the Carabinieri were
transformed into the Ufficio Centrale di Vigilanza. Then the Law No. CLXVIII
of March 25, 1991, changes it to the Corpo di Vigilanza dello Stato della
Cittą del Vaticano. Then by Law No. CCCLXXIV of January 2, 2002 its changed
into the Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Cittą del Vaticano, and
finally by Decree No. 476431, of September 18, 2008, the Regulation of the
Corps is established.
Source:
http://www.vaticanstate.va/IT/Servizi/Direzione_SdS_VVFF/corpo_della_gendarmeria.htm
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 Direzione dei Servizi
di Sicurezza e Protezione Civile (Security and Civil Defense Services
Department) created by Law No. CCCIXXXIV of July 16, 2002, and it also
includes the Corpo dei Vigili del Fuoco (Vatican Fire Brigade) (official
website:
http://www.vaticanstate.va/IT/Servizi/Direzione_SdS_VVFF/corpo_dei_vigili_del_fuoco.htm), an organ of the Governorate of Vatican City".
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Gendarmerie_of_Vatican_City
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpo_della_Gendarmeria_dello_Stato_della_Citt%C3%A0_del_Vaticano
and
http://www.vaticanstate.va/IT/Servizi/Direzione_SdS_VVFF/corpo_della_gendarmeria.htm
The flag is a blue horizontal flag with the
coat of arms (http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stemma_Gendarmeria_Vaticana.svg&page=1).
Images of the flag can be seen here:
http://www.dagospia.com/img/foto/05-2012/gendarmeria-vaticano-168826.jpg
(Source:
http://www.dagospia.com/mediagallery/dago_fotogallery-59572/392680.htm)
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0011_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0018_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0019_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0024_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0025_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0027_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0028_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0029_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0030_foto.jpg,
http://www.vaticanstate.va/images/gallery/direzionesds_gendarmeria/0031_foto.jpg
(Source:
http://www.vaticanstate.va/IT/Monumenti/GallerieFotografiche/direzionesds/direzionesds_gendarmeria.htm)
For additional information please see:
Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Cittą del Vaticano (official website)
http://www.vaticanstate.va/IT/Servizi/Direzione_SdS_VVFF/corpo_della_gendarmeria.htm
Esteban Rivera, 4 October 2012
