Until the 11th century, the
Archdeacon of Rome was responsible for the administration of the property of the Church (i.e., the
Diocese of
Rome), but the office's numerous ancient privileges and rights had come to make it a frequent hindrance to independent action on the part of the
Pope; as a result, when the last Archdeacon
Hildebrand was elected to the Papacy as
Gregory VII in 1073, he suppressed the Archdiaconate and the prelate entrusted with the supervision of the
Apostolic Camera (), i.e., the possessions of the Holy See, became known as the
camerarius ("Chamberlain"). The camerarius was for centuries a central figure in the Papal court. The name camerlengo was adopted later, likely after the fashion of Valois-Anjou court. It was the obligation of the camerarius to formally establish the death of the Pope. Gradually, this evolved in the theory that the camerarius, as the Chief of the Curia, should conduct normal business even after the death of the Pope, and also conduct the burial and the preparation for the new election. This process was evident with camerarius
Boso Breakspeare. the camerlengo enjoyed an income of 10,000 to 12,000
scudi a year out of the
Apostolic Camera. He had jurisdiction over all suits involving the Apostolic Camera, and could judge separately or in association with the Clerics of the Apostolic Camera; he was not impeded by Consistory. He has appellate jurisdiction over suits decided by the Masters of the Roads. In a narration of the 18th century, the camerlengo is the chief officer in the Apostolic Camera, the Financial Council of the Pope. In his office are the Governor of Rome (who is vice-Chancellor), The Treasurer, the Auditor, the President, the Advocate General, the Fiscal Procurator, the Commissary, and twelve Clerks of the Chamber (one with the special title of Prefect of the Grain Supply, another Prefect of Provisions, another Prefect of Prisons, and another Prefect of Roads). Each Clerk of the Chamber received around 8,000 scudi a year, representing 10% of the business that passes through his office. The powers and functions of the camerlengo were diminished considerably in the 19th century, first by the reorganisation of the papal government after the election of
Pope Pius VII in 1800, then by the reorganization of the papal government after the return of
Pope Pius IX from exile in 1850, and then by the loss of the Papal States in 1860 and the City of Rome in 1870. The chief beneficiary of these changes was the
Cardinal Secretary of State. Since early in the 20th century, the offices of Secretary of State and camerlengo were held concurrently by
Pietro Gasparri (1916–1930),
Eugenio Pacelli (1935–1939),
Jean-Marie Villot (1970–1979), and
Tarcisio Bertone (2007–2013).
Pope Francis appointed as camerlengo prelates who had not been Secretary of State:
Jean-Louis Tauran (2014–2018) and
Kevin Joseph Farrell (2019–present). == Responsibilities ==