FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 20 September 2021 (NRom)
His Eminence Keith Cardinal Steinhurst, Duke of Westphalia, Cardinal-Bishop of Porto-Antico was recently appointed as Gonfaloniere of the Church by H.H.E. the Papa-Prince. The Gonfaloniere of the Church, which means "standard-bearer," is a high office within the Pontifical Walsingham Guard and the Court of the modern Pontifical States (Anglican Patriarchate of Rome). Today the office serves as the highest ceremonial rank within the Guard next to the Archfather and functions as the Archfather's representative within the Guard. Within the Pontifical Court, the office ranks immediately above the General Staff.
The office name originates from the use of the pontifical banners during battle, though it is now purely a ceremonial and administrative role. Due to its origin, however, the Gonfaloniere is entitled to maintain and display two flags, the military flag of the Stato Pontificio and the personal standard of the Holy Father.
Additionally, like other General and Flag Officers, he has a flag of rank. It is distinct, and in its modern form currently in use, it is red with the temporal emblem of the Stato Pontificio in gold (the crossed key of St. Peter with the sword of Saint Mark, surmounted by the ombrellino), with the insignia of rank on both sides. The insignia of rank is identical to that used by the Captain-General, and consists of crossed silver batons with silver Saint Stephen crosses on either side, a gold Roman eagle above, a gold Roman eagle within a wreath below, all surmounted by a crown. The Gonfalioniere is also entitled to the use of the crossed key and sword with ombrellino displayed within his coat of arms. This can be during the term of office, for life, or occasionally an hereditary privilege.
Historic List of Gonfalonieri
Saint Erlembald
Stephen the Norman
James II, King of Aragon
Galeotto I Malatesta
Ridolfo II da Varano di Camerino
Charles III, King of Naples
Carlo I Malatesta
Martin, King of Aragon and Sicily
Niccolò III d'Este
Ladislaus of Naples, King of Sicily
Louis II of Naples
Gianfrancisco I Gonzaga
Niccolò Fortebraccio
Giovanni Cardinale Vitelleschi
Francesco I Sforza
Niccolò Piccinino
Louis, Dauphin of France
Francesco I Sforza
Pedro Luis Borgia, Duke of Spoleto
Federico da Montefeltro
Giovanni della Rovere
Niccolo Orsini
Giovanni Borgia, Duke of Gandia
Cesare Borgia
Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
Alfonso I d'Este
Francesco Gonzaga
Giuliano de'Medici
Lorenzo II de'Medici, Duke of Urbino
Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma
Jacques Annibal de Hohenembs
Giacomo Boncompagni
Odoardo Farnese
Carlo Barberini, Duke of Monterotondo
Torquato Conti, Duke of Guadagnolo
Taddeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina
Maffeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina
Livio Odescalchi, Duke of Bracciano, Ceri, and Sirmium
Keith Cardinal Steinhurst, Duke of Westphalia