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CONSISTORY

An ecclesiastical court, especially an assembly of cardinals for purposes of deliberation, presided over by the Pope. A papal consistory is secret if only cardinals are present, semi-public if bishops also participate, and public if other prelates are called to the meeting. (Etym. Latin consistere, to stand together.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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