APERTIO ORIS. - An expression in use at the Roman Curia, with a twofold meaning.
It means first of all the procedure required for a measure issued by the supreme authority of the Pontiff to be taken up for examination again. When the Pope has issued a measure, or has confirmed in specific form the measure of a lower prelate, a re-examination by a subordinate authority is no longer possible, unless the facultas aperitionis oris, seu aperiendi mentem Summi Pontificis is obtained from the Pope himself. The CIC contemplates the case, though without containing the expression, in can. 1683. Frequent practical applications of this legal institution are found in the Thesaurus resolutionum S. C. Concilii, 167 vols., Rome 1739-1908; and in S. Pallottini, Collectio omnium conclusionum et resolutionum S. C. Concilii, 17 vols., Rome 1867 ff.
It means furthermore a phase of the ceremonial used by the Supreme Pontiff for the creation of cardinals. In one of the secret consistories following the appointment of the new cardinals, the Pope performs the twofold ceremony of the closing and opening of the mouth, which consists in withholding and subsequently granting to the newly elected the voice in the consistories and other assemblies of the Roman Curia (v. CONCISTORO). Agatangelo da Langasco
APHARSACHEI, (APHARSATACHEI, APHARSEI): V. APARSACHEI.