Abbatial Gendarmerie · Principality of Sabourg
Official logo

Official Institution

Abbatial Gendarmerie

Serving the people, the environment and concord. Three divisions — Land, Air, Sea — united to provide assistance, rescue, awareness and protection.

About us

An official institution at the citizen's service

The Abbatial Gendarmerie is an official institution of the Principality of Sabourg. For reasons of territorial management, it operates as a voluntary association under Italian law, with non-profit status.

Our mission revolves around five concrete commitments:

  • Assisting citizens, especially the most vulnerable
  • Providing first aid and supporting civil protection
  • Promoting historical and cultural events
  • Raising awareness of civic education and music
  • Protecting both land and marine environments

Our voluntary organisation is chaired by His Most Reverend Highness the Prince-Abbot Archbishop of Sabourg, assisted by a Chief of Staff.

General Staff of the Abbatial Gendarmerie at an official ceremony
Commander General

His Most Reverend Highness

H.M.R.H. Msgr. Giovanni Luca, Commander General

Msgr. Giovanni Luca, Pietro II

Gianluca de Lucia

Prince-Abbot · Patriarch-elect of Italy

The Commander General of the Abbatial Gendarmerie is the Metropolitan Archbishop Giovanni Luca, born Msgr. Gianluca de Lucia.

Born in Bordighera on 27 May 1978, qualified in accounting, he obtained in 2013 a degree in theology at the European Deanery of the Polish National Catholic Church. A former Auxiliary Carabiniere awarded the Medal of Merit, he was a political activist in Ventimiglia from 2002 to 2010.

On 28 December 2019, His Most Reverend Highness Msgr. Giovanni Luca was consecrated and crowned 91st Prince-Abbot of Sabourg. On 14 August 2024 he was elected Patriarch of Italy by the Synod of the Orthodox Church in Italy.

"Wearing a uniform is a commitment and a great responsibility toward the citizens who place their trust in us, volunteer gendarmes."
Operational leadership

Chief of Staff

Sébastien Sallembien, Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff

Sébastien Sallembien

Abbatial Gendarmerie — Principality of Sabourg

The Chief of Staff ensures the operational coordination of the three divisions — Land, Air, Sea — and oversees the proper implementation of the Association's missions in the field.

Three divisions

Land, Air, Sea

The Gendarmerie is divided into three operational divisions, each commanded by a Director holding the rank of Admiral or Division General. Any attribution of rank and title is strictly functional and concerns the internal organisation of the Association.

Land Division emblem

Land

Land volunteers

Assist citizens in case of need, carry out first-aid operations, intervene with a firefighting team.

Air Division emblem

Air

Air volunteers

Aerial surveillance of the territory by civilian drones, subject to authorisation. Fire prevention and air rescue.

Sea Division emblem

Sea

Sea volunteers

Assist and rescue mariners in distress, alert the competent authorities, protect the marine environment.

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Internal organisation

Administrative subdivisions

The Association is structured around two complementary subdivisions: one dedicated to training, art and cultural outreach; the other to institutional service, rescue and close protection.

Following the creation of the Music School of the Abbatial Gendarmerie, the establishment of the Conservatory of the Principality of Sabourg is currently being planned, through a cooperation agreement with the Italian administrative authorities.

Join our ranks

Become a volunteer with the Abbatial Gendarmerie of Seborga. Support the population in times of crisis, put your skills at the service of the community, and rediscover that sense of brotherly love that unites us.