PONTIFICAL COURT. — The term was introduced in the 12th century, there being previously no distinction between the Pontifical Court, the Court of Rome, the Holy See, and the Apostolic See. From the time it began to be used it was disapproved by many, as, for example, by Gerhoh, Provost of Reichersberg (d. 27 June 1169).
Zaccaria writes that cardinals, prelates, and ministers form the Pontifical Court. But Moroni (s.V. *Curia romana*, in *Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica*, XIX) rightly observes that clear ideas on the subject are necessary, since misunderstandings may arise. For example, De Luca, in chap. 1 of his *Relatio Romanae Curiae*, lists as the lowest members of the Roman Curia those persons who assist and serve the Pope, the cardinals, and the prelates, and who are commonly called courtiers. The Pontifical Court, which De Luca calls the *curia aulica*, would be nothing more than a part of the Roman Curia, having exclusive concern with court ceremonies and rituals. In all this, however, there is no disagreement or ambiguity, since the term can be taken either in an extended sense, in which case it corresponds to the definition given by Zaccaria, or in a restricted sense, in which case it agrees with De Luca’s account.
It is not so much the use of the term that should be disapproved as the abuse to which it was later put, when by distinguishing the Court from the Roman See an opportunity was found for venting the most bitter venom against the Apostolic See. It is easy to understand how common this abuse was in the time of the Protestant Reformation, when the innovators directed their attacks against the Holy See, which they contemptuously called the Court of Rome.
Gradually, however, the term came into common and proper use, and in the mid-17th century Girolamo Lunadoro published, through the press of Andrea Fei in Bracciano, his *Relazione della Corte di Roma*, which contains reliable information on the various offices that make up such a court. The term, however, was rarely used officially. Indeed, in the semi-official publication *La gerarchia cattolica e la famiglia pontificia*, published in Rome by the Monaldi brothers, it is mentioned only when giving the *Addresses of dignitaries and principal officials, cardinals, prelates, laymen, etc. of the Pontifical Court* and the *Roman Curia*. This mention was repeated until a few years ago in the *Annuario Pontificio*, the official publication of the Holy See, but it has now disappeared altogether. It is, however, used in art. 10 of the Lateran Treaty, and in the Protocol between the Holy See and Italy of 6 Sept. 1932, which also lists the offices of which the Pontifical Court is composed.