consistory

consistory, (from Latin consistorium, “assembly place”), a gathering of ecclesiastical persons for the purpose of administering justice or transacting business, particularly meetings of the Sacred College of Cardinals with the pope serving as president. From the 11th century, when the institution of the cardinalate became more important, the Sacred College of Cardinals assembled in regular meetings called consistories and became the normal counselors of the popes. In the course of time, more-complicated business came to...