CONCISTORO

CONCISTORO. — The consistory consists of a solemn assembly of all the cardinals present in Rome, presided over by the pope, for the consideration of some of the most important matters relating to the government of the universal Church.

The name consistory is found used in this sense since the Middle Ages, and derives from the identical name by which, in the last centuries of the Roman Empire, the assembly of imperial dignitaries presided over by the emperor was designated. Traditionally, consistories are held in the palace where the supreme pontiff resides.

Three kinds of consistory are distinguished: the ordinary or secret consistory, which is currently usually held in the room known as the consistory hall; the public consistory, which is ordinarily held in a larger setting suited to the solemnity of the assembly (often in the Sistine Chapel, or sometimes in S. Pietro); and the semi-public consistory, which is held in one of the rooms of the Papal Palace. Nowadays consistories are not held on fixed dates; in earlier times, however, they had an established periodicity (Innocent III used to hold three each week), given the large number of matters dealt with in them.

Only the cardinals attend the secret consistory together with the pope; before the consistory begins, the extra omnes is announced, and all persons not belonging to it leave the consistory hall; the doors are closed and reopened at the end of the consistory. If a cardi-

nal is to be assigned or transferred to an episcopal see, the cardinal remains outside while the pope makes the relevant proposal.

The secret consistory often begins with the reading, by the supreme pontiff, of an allocution (generally in Latin) on matters of great importance and current religious or ecclesiastical-political interest; this allocution is almost always published (v. ALLOCUZIONE).

Among the matters ordinarily dealt with in a secret consistory are: a) the announcement by the pope of any resignations by cardinals; b) the appointment of cardinal legates a latere; c) the appointment of the cardinal camerlengo or chancellor of the Holy Roman Church; d) the appointment of new cardinals; e) the options of cardinals (v. CARDINALE); f) the preconization of new archbishops, bishops, prelates, or abbots nullius; g) the promulgation of the Holy Year and the appointment of legates for the opening or closing of the Holy Doors.

Also in the secret consistory, the pope, following a report by the cardinal prefect of the S. Congregation of Rites, asks the cardinals whether or not it is possible to proceed to the canonization of a particular blessed person whose cause has previously been investigated by the Congregation of Rites. In response to the pope’s question (quid vobis videtur?), the cardinals individually express their opinion on the matter.

It should be noted that in other matters, by contrast, the presence of the cardinals no longer has any function other than lending greater solemnity to the ceremony; and even when (as in the appointment of new members of the S. Collegio) the pope asks quid vobis videtur?, the response of the cardinals present at the consistory is given collectively and is always affirmative, thus amounting to a mere formality, a reminder of the time when matters were discussed during the consistory, even for many hours.

The metropolitans (v.), and other bishops pallium (v.), must request the pallium itself from the pope: the relevant petition is made by those newly appointed, personally or through a procurator, at the end of the secret consistory.

It should be observed that, when new cardinals are appointed, it is customary to hold two secret consistories, one on Monday and the other on the following Thursday or Friday, with a public consistory in between (held on Thursday). The appointments of the new cardinals are published at the Monday consistory, and those newly appointed, if present in Rome, attend both the public consistory, at which the pope imposes the cardinalitial hat upon them, and the second secret consistory: at the beginning of which the pontiff closes their mouths, and reopens them (thereby granting them the faculty of taking part in all the deliberations of cardinalitial assemblies) at the end of the consistory itself, giving each of them a ring and conferring upon him his title or diaconia.

In addition to the pope and the cardinals, other ecclesiastical and lay dignitaries of the papal court, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, take part in the public consistory.

In this consistory, the peroration (the petition for canonization) of the causes of saints dealt with in the preceding secret consistory first takes place; the peroration is made for each cause by a consistorial advocate; once the perorations have ended, the Secretary of briefs ad Principes now usually replies on behalf of the pope, generally deferring the final decision to a semi-public consistory. The pope then imposes the cardinalitial hat upon the new cardinals. This is followed, if there are any, by the perorations for beatification causes (these perorations too are made by a consistorial advocate).

In addition to the cardinals, all archbishops and bishops whose sees are less than 100 miles from Rome are summoned to the semi-public consistory; all other patriarchs, archbishops, or bishops may also attend. All these persons have the right to vote in this consistory.

The pope asks whether it is possible to proceed to the canonizations discussed in the last secret and public consistories (the semi-public consistory is held several days, or even several months, after those consistories). Once the responses have been received, the apostolic protonotaries are charged with drawing up the relevant minutes. — Vedi tav. VII.