Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice

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The Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice ({{langx|it|Gran Maestro del Sacro Ospizio}}) or Quartermaster-General of the Sacred Palaces is a hereditary official of the Pontifical Household. This post is the highest ranking post available to laymen.[https://books.google.com/books?id=4a7QDwAAQBAJ&dq=Grand+Master+of+the+Sacred+Apostolic+Hospice&pg=PA305 Google Books website, Origins of Catholic Words: A Discursive Dictionary, by Anthony Lo Bello, page 305] The title and office became hereditary on June 28, 1808, when Pope Pius VII appointed Prince Francesco Ruspoli as Grand Master.Brooke, Douglas (1911) [https://books.google.com/books?id=-sAPAAAAIAAJ&q=Ruspoli The Secrets of the Vatican.] J.B. Lippincott.

The Grand Master is a Participating Privy Chamberlain and the sole lay member of the Noble Privy Antechamber, as well as a Participating Privy Chamberlain of the Sword and Cape (made up of laymen, traditionally holding hereditary posts).{{Cn|date=July 2021}}

From 1808 with Francesco Ruspoli, 3rd prince of Cerveteri, the Ruspoli family assumed the office of Grand Master of the Sacred Hospice and succeeded in the Conti family.[https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2020/05/the-papal-court-aula-pontificia.html Liturgical Arts Journal website, The Papal Court (Aula Pontificia), article by John Paul Sonnen dated May 8, 2020]