The papal nobility are the aristocracy of the Holy See, composed of persons holding titles bestowed by the Pope in his capacity as the head of state of Vatican City (rather than his positions within the Roman Catholic Church). From the Middle Ages into the nineteenth century, the papacy held direct temporal power in the Papal States, and many titles of papal nobility were derived from fiefs with territorial privileges attached.
The papal nobility are the aristocracy of the Holy See, composed of persons holding titles bestowed by the Pope in his capacity as the head of state of Vatican City (rather than his positions within the Roman Catholic Church). From the Middle Ages into the nineteenth century, the papacy held direct temporal power in the Papal States, and many titles of papal nobility were derived from fiefs with territorial privileges attached.
Source: Wikipedia "Papal nobility" · CC BY-SA 4.0
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