Papal consistory

Last updated

First public consistory of Pope Pius X First Public Consistory of Pope Pius X.jpg
First public consistory of Pope Pius X

In the Roman Catholic Church a consistory is a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals called by the pope. There are two kinds of consistories, extraordinary and ordinary. [1] An "extraordinary" consistory is held to allow the pope to consult with the entire membership of the College of Cardinals. An "ordinary" consistory is ceremonial in nature and attended by cardinals resident in Rome. For example, the pope elevates new cardinals to the College at a consistory; [2] Pope Francis has called consistories for ceremonies of canonization. [3] [4]

Contents

A meeting of the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope is not a consistory, but a conclave.

History

The term consistory comes from the Latin : con-sistere; "stand together". [5] Early popes conferred with their Roman presbytery which included the deacons appointed to oversee different parts of Rome. This tradition continued as deacons were replaced with cardinals and those cardinals (from among whom the pope was chosen) continued to meet at the request of successive popes.[ citation needed ]

Consistories became an opportunity for the pope to decide matters of state and dispense justice directly, with the support and advice of Roman bishops and those bishops from other regions who happened to be in Rome. Pope Leo IV ordered that consistories be held twice weekly. Pope John VIII relaxed that edict slightly and an order of twice-monthly consistories. [5] With the Gregorian Reform, the Church limited outside influences on the papacy and the selection of popes and the power of cardinals increased. Tradition developed that the pope would use consistories (closer to twice-yearly by the 17th century) to reveal a list of those that were to be elevated to the rank of cardinal.[ citation needed ]

Eventually, responsibility for matters of justice was transferred to the Roman Rota and the functions of the Church were transferred to the Roman Curia reducing the need for regular consistories. Subsequently, consistories became primarily ceremonial in function. [5]

Since 2014, Pope Francis abrogated the custom of having cardinals gather for consistories. And this was one of the few official occasions for the future members of the conclave to meet and get to know each other. [6]

Consistory for the creation of cardinals

Medal of the consistory of Pope Paul II (c. 1466 or 1467) Emilio orfini da foligno e andrea di niccolo da Viterbo, medaglia del concistoro di papa paolo II, 1466-1467.JPG
Medal of the consistory of Pope Paul II (c. 1466 or 1467)

At a consistory for the creation of cardinals, the pope creates new cardinals in the presence of a number, if not all, of the cardinals. Though the names of the new cardinals have been announced in advance, they only become cardinals at the consistory when the pope formally publishes the decree of elevation, even if the new cardinal is not present. [a]

New cardinals present are presented with their rings, zucchetto (small skullcaps), and biretta (four-cornered silk hats) by the pope. [b]

The zucchetto and the biretta are scarlet, the distinctive color of cardinals' vesture.

At the consistory, new cardinals, with certain exceptions, are assigned titular churches in the Diocese of Rome. [c]

Recent consistories

Pope Benedict XVI created cardinals at five consistories. [7] In 2007 and 2010 he held a day-long meeting with the entire College, the cardinals designate, and various advisers on the day preceding the Consistory of Creation.

Pope Francis followed this custom for his first two consistories. [8] His 2014 consistory for creating new cardinals was preceded by an extraordinary consistory where Cardinal Walter Kasper gave an address designed to launch the discussions of the Synod on the Family held later in the year. In 2015 a similar extraordinary consistory on the eve of a consistory to create cardinals discussed the reform of the Roman Curia just a few days before Francis formed the Council of Cardinals to advise him on that reform. [9] Francis has created cardinals at ten consistories at roughly annual intervals, as of December 2024. [10]

See also

Notes

  1. For example, Bishop John Fisher was imprisoned by King Henry VIII on 26 April 1534. A year later, in May 1535, Pope Paul III created Fisher a cardinal. King Henry, however, forbade the cardinal's hat to be brought into England, declaring that he would send the head to Rome instead. Cardinal Fisher was beheaded a month later on 22 June.[ citation needed ]
  2. Formerly they also received an elaborate broad-brimmed tasseled hat, the galerum rubrum, at the ceremony, but Pope Paul VI abolished this in 1967 and those cardinals who want these obtain them privately from a maker in Rome.
  3. Pope Paul VI abolished their functional involvement in the governance of these churches; the cardinals formally "take possession" of these churches at a later date.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinal (Catholic Church)</span> Senior church official

A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. They are titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, thereby serving as the primary advisors to the Bishop of Rome. Cardinals are created by the pope and typically hold the title for life. Collectively, they constitute the College of Cardinals. The most solemn responsibility of the cardinals is to elect a new pope in a conclave, almost always from among themselves, when the Holy See is vacant. During the period between a pope's death or resignation and the election of his successor, the day-to-day governance of the Holy See is in the hands of the College of Cardinals. The right to participate in a conclave is limited to cardinals who have not reached the age of 80 years by the day the vacancy occurs. In addition, cardinals collectively participate in papal consistories, in which matters of importance to the Church are considered and new cardinals may be created. Cardinals of working age are also appointed to roles overseeing dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the central administration of the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Benedict XVI</span> Head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013

Pope Benedict XVI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Upon his resignation, Benedict chose to be known as "Pope emeritus", and he retained this title until his death in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Cardinals</span> Body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church

The College of Cardinals, more formally called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. As of 22 January 2025, there are 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinals are appointed by the pope for life but eligibility to vote ceases at the age of 80.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga</span> Catholic cardinal (born 1942)

Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B. is a Honduran prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Tegucigalpa from 1993 to 2023. He was president of Caritas Internationalis and served as president of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) from 1995 to 1999.

In pectore is a term used in the Catholic Church for an action, decision, or document which is meant to be kept secret. It is most often used when there is a papal appointment to the College of Cardinals without a public announcement of the name of that cardinal. The pope reserves that name to himself. The Italian-language version of the phrase – in petto – is sometimes used. When the name of a new cardinal is announced or made public, it is sometimes said to be published.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zenon Grocholewski</span> Polish Catholic cardinal (1939–2020)

Zenon Grocholewski was a Polish prelate of the Catholic Church, who was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2001. He joined the Roman Curia in 1972 and served from 1999 until 2015 as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonardo Sandri</span> Argentine cardinal

Leonardo Sandri is an Argentine prelate of the Catholic Church who has been a cardinal since November 2007 and vice dean of the College of Cardinals since January 2020. He was prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches from 2007 to 2022. He served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1974 to 1991 in several overseas assignments, including as a permanent observer of the Holy See before the Organization of American States from 1989 to 1991, and in Rome as Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State from 1999 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugênio Sales</span>

Eugênio de Araújo Sales was a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, having been elevated by Pope Paul VI on 28 April 1969. He served as archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro for thirty years until his resignation was accepted in 2001, when he had already passed the maximum age for voting in a papal conclave. He was the Cardinal Protopriest of the Holy Roman Church and also the longest-serving living Cardinal of the Catholic Church from 16 February 2009 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achille Silvestrini</span> Italian Catholic cardinal (1923–2019)

Achille Silvestrini was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served in the Vatican diplomatic corps, either in Rome or abroad, from 1953 to 1990, and later as Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches from 1991 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesco Coccopalmerio</span> Italian cardinal

Francesco Coccopalmerio is an Italian cardinal. He was president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts from his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 February 2007 until his resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on 7 April 2018. He spent his early years in the Archdiocese of Milan and became an auxiliary bishop in 1993. He moved to the Roman Curia in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemente Micara</span> Catholic cardinal

Clemente Micara was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1909 to 1950 and was Vicar General of Rome from 1951 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanisław Ryłko</span> Polish Cardinal

Stanisław Marian Ryłko is a Polish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He held positions in the Roman Curia beginning in 1987 and was president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity from 2003 to 2016. He was made a cardinal in 2007. He has been Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore since 28 December 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angelo Comastri</span> Italian prelate

Angelo Comastri is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica from 2006 to 2021, and Vicar General for the Vatican City State and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter from 2005 to 2021. He previously served as Bishop of Massa Marittima-Piombino (1990–1994) and Territorial Prelate of Loreto (1996–2005). He was named a cardinal in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giuseppe Bertello</span> Italian prelate (born 1942)

Giuseppe Bertello is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal since 2012, who was President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State from October 2011 to October 2021. He worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1971 to 2011; became an archbishop in 1987; held appointments as Nuncio to several countries, including Rwanda, Mexico, and Italy; and was the Holy See's representative to a number of international organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domenico Calcagno</span> Italian prelate of the Catholic Church

Domenico Calcagno is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been a bishop since 2002 and a cardinal since 2012. From 7 July 2011 to 26 June 2018 he was President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, where he had served as secretary since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santos Abril y Castelló</span> Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1936)

Santos Abril y Castelló is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church. After a career in the diplomatic corps of the Holy See, he held a number of positions in the Roman Curia and from 2011 to 2016 was Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinals created by John XXIII</span>

Pope John XXIII created 52 cardinals in five consistories. Beginning at his first consistory, he expanded the size of the College beyond the limit of seventy established in 1586 and on several occasions announced that further increases should be expected. It rose to 88 in January 1961. He named three additional cardinals in pectore, that is, secretly, but did not reveal their names before his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinals created by Benedict XVI</span>

Pope Benedict XVI created 90 cardinals in five consistories. With three of those consistories he respected the limit on the number of cardinal electors set at 120 in 1973, though sometimes exceeded by his predecessors. He exceeded that limit at the other two consistories, reaching as high as 125 in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 papal conclave</span> Election of Pope Francis

A conclave was convened on 12 March 2013 to elect a pope to succeed Benedict XVI, who had resigned on 28 February. 115 participating cardinal-electors gathered. On the fifth ballot, the conclave elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He took the pontifical name Francis.

Pope Francis has created cardinals at ten consistories held at roughly annual intervals beginning in 2014, most recently on 7 December 2024. The cardinals created by Francis include 163 cardinals from 76 countries, 25 of which had never been represented in the College of Cardinals. His appointments include the first Scandinavian since the Reformation, the first from Goa since an episcopal see was established there in 1533, the first from Latin America's indigenous peoples, the first from India's Dalit class, and the first active head of a religious congregation.

References

  1. Code of Canon Law Canon 353.
  2. "Announcement of the Consistory of 29 June for the creation of new Cardinals, 20.05.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. "Pope Convokes Consistory for Canonization of Little Shepherds of Fatima". Zenit. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  4. "Causes of Saints: Consistory for the Canonizations of Paul VI and Bishop Romero on May 19th". Zenit. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Papal Consistory by Kevin Knight (Catholic Encyclopedia, 2009)
  6. "Il sacro collegio a portata di clic". lanuovabq.it (in Italian). Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  7. Senz, Paul (31 December 2022). "A numerical look at the legacy of Pope Benedict". Our Sunday Visitor. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  8. Reese SJ, Thomas J. (14 November 2010). "Thomas Reese on the Consistory". America . Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. Gagliarducci, Andrea (18 November 2016). "So what is a consistory, anyway?". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  10. White, Christopher (27 August 2022). "Pope Francis exhorts San Diego's McElroy, new cardinals to practice 'unassuming power'". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
Additional sources