The Apostolic Penitentiary (), formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is a

dicastery A dicastery (from gr, δικαστήριον, dikastērion, law-court, from δικαστής, 'judge, juror') is the name of some departments of the Roman Curia. ''Pastor bonus'' ''Pastor bonus'' (1988), includes this definition: ''Praed ...

of the Roman Curia and is one of the three ordinary

tribunal A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a singl ...

s of the Apostolic See. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of

mercy Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, reli ...

, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of

sin In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...

s in the Catholic Church. The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction only over matters in the internal forum. Its work falls mainly into these categories: * the absolution of excommunications '' latæ sententiæ'' reserved to the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...

* the dispensation of

sacramental A sacramental in Christianity is a material object or action (in Latin ''sacramentalia'') ritually blessed by a priest to signal its association with the sacraments and so to incite reverence during acts of worship. They are recognised by the Ca ...

impediments reserved to the Holy See * the issuance and governance of

indulgence In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence (, from , 'permit') is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins". The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' describes an indulgence as "a remission before God o ...

s. The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Major Penitentiary, is one of the few Vatican officials who retain their positions '' sede vacante''. If the Major Penitentiary is a cardinal elector he is one of only three persons in the conclave allowed to communicate with those outside the conclave, so that he can continue to fulfill his duties (the other two being the

Cardinal Vicar Cardinal Vicar ( it, Cardinale Vicario) is a title commonly given to the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome for the portion of the diocese within Italy (i.e. excluding the portion within Vatican City). The official title, as given in the ''Annuar ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...

and the

Vicar General for the Vatican City State The Diocese of Rome ( la, Dioecesis Urbis seu Romana; it, Diocesi di Roma) is the ecclesiastical district under the direct jurisdiction of the Pope, who is Bishop of Rome and hence the supreme pontiff and head of the worldwide Catholic Church. ...

). The Major Penitentiary is a

titular archbishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox ...

and is normally a

cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **'' Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **'' Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, t ...

. Since 21 September 2013, the Major Penitentiary is Cardinal

Mauro Piacenza Mauro Piacenza JCD (born 15 September 1944) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. A cardinal since 2010, he has served as Penitentiary Major of the Apostolic Penitentiary since his appointment by Pope Francis on 21 September 2013. He was ...

. The second-highest-ranking official in the Apostolic Penitentiary, the regent, is Msgr. Krzysztof Józef Nykiel.

History

During the Middle Ages, the Apostolic Penitentiary had two major functions. The ''officium minus'' related to the spiritual care of Christians, and the ability to listen to confessions and absolve sins of grave nature, whose absolving was reserved to the Pope. The ''officium maius'' related to the power to grant grace to those petitioned the Pope in relation to: (1) absolution for breaking the regulations of canon law (2) dispensations to act against Church regulations (3) licenses not to observe ecclesiastical norms regarding the exercise of the faith and (4) official declarations. The Penitantiary developed around the 12th century, with its powers gradually increasing and being expanded by subsequent popes.

Absolutions and dispensations

Normally confessions of

s are handled at the local level by priests and their bishops and are not heard by the tribunal. The work of the Apostolic Penitentiary involves sins, such as defiling the Eucharist, which are reserved to the Holy See. In late 2006, then Major Penitentiary

Cardinal Stafford James Francis Stafford (born July 26, 1932) is an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary from 2003 to 2009. He previously served as president of the Pontifical Council f ...

said this offense is occurring with more and more frequency, by ordinary faithful who receive Communion and then spit it out or otherwise desecrate it.

Indulgences

The Apostolic Penitentiary also specifies actions for which indulgences are granted, either permanently (in the ''Enchiridion Indulgentiarum''), or on special occasions, such as the Year for Priests (19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010), during which a plenary

is granted, on 19 June 2009, on first Thursdays, on 4 August 2009 (150th anniversary of the death of Saint

Jean-Marie Vianney John Vianney (born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney; 8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), venerated as Saint John Vianney, was a French Catholic priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church as a saint and as the patron saint of parish priests. He is oft ...

), and on 19 June 2010, to all the faithful who attend Mass, pray for priests to

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

the Eternal High Priest, offer any other good work they do that day, and satisfy the conditions for any plenary indulgence (detachment from all sins, the

Sacrament of Penance The Sacrament of Penance (also commonly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church (known in Eastern Christianity as sacred mysteries), in which the faithful are absolved from si ...

within the last or next couple of weeks, holy communion (

Eucharist in the Catholic Church Eucharist ( grc-gre, εὐχαριστία, eucharistía, thanksgiving) here refers to Holy Communion or the Body and Blood of Christ, which is consumed during the Catholic Mass or Eucharistic Celebration. "At the Last Supper, on the night he ...

), and praying for the Pope's intentions). There are also adaptations for those unable to go to church, and daily indulgences available only to priests.

''Misericordiae vultus''

In the Papal Bull '' Misericordiae Vultus'' (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: "The Face of

Mercy Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, reli ...

"), Pope Francis decreed that the Church would observe a Special Jubilee Year of Mercy lasting from the

Solemnity In the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite, a solemnity is a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, his mother Mary, his earthly father Joseph, or another important sai ...

of the

Immaculate Conception The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, meaning that it is held to be a divinely revealed truth w ...

of the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

Holy Day of Obligation In the Catholic Church, holy days of obligation are days on which the faithful are expected to attend Mass, and engage in rest from work and recreation (id est, they are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed t ...

) on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, until the Solemnity of the

Feast of Christ the King The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a feast in the liturgical year which emphasises the true kingship of Christ. ...

of the Universe on the last Sunday before

Advent Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. The name was adopted from Latin "coming; arrival", translating Greek ''parousia''. In ...

, in November 2016. For this, he allowed certain qualified priests to serve as "Missionaries of Mercy" to each Diocese, with the faculties to absolve even sins that are reserved to the Holy See through the Apostolic Penitentiary. Normally, a priest or even a bishop would not be able to do this unless the person was in danger of imminent death. The Pope has the power, as the earthly absolute sovereign of the Catholic Church, to make this special change for the year.

List of major penitentiaries

1216–1405

* Nicola de Romanis (1216–1219) * Tommaso da Capua (1219–1239) * Bishop Guglielmo di Modena, O. Cart. (1244–1251) *

Hugh of Saint-Cher Hugh of Saint-Cher ( la, Hugo de Sancto Charo), O.P. (c. 1200 – 19 March 1263) was a French Dominican friar who became a cardinal and noted biblical commentator. Life Hugh was born at Saint-Cher, a suburb of Vienne, Dauphiné, around the ...

(ca.1256–1263) * Gui Foucault (1263–1265) *

Henry of Susa Henry of Segusio, usually called Hostiensis, (c. 1200 – 6 or 7 November 1271) was an Italian canonist of the thirteenth century, born at Susa (Segusio), in the ancient Diocese of Turin. He died at Lyon. Life He undertook the study of Roman law ...

(1266–1271) * Pierre de Tarentaise (1273–1276) * ''(1276–1279 – probably vacant)'' * Bentivenga de Bentivengis (1279–1289) * Matteo di Aquasparta (1289–1302) * Gentile Partino (1302–1305) * Berengar Fredol (1306–1323) * Gauscelin de Jean (ca.1327–1348) * Etienne Aubert (1348–1352) * Egidio Albornoz (1352–1367) ** Francesco degli Atti (substitute penitentiary c. 1353–1361) * Guillaume Bragose (substitute penitentiary 1361–1367, grand penitentiary 1367) ** Galhardus de Boscoviridi (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1367–1369) * Etienne de Poissy (1369–1373) * Jean du Cros (1373–1378) ** Giovanni d'Amelia (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1378) * Eleazario da Sabrano (1378–1379) ** Augustin de Lanzano (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1379–1382) * Luca Rodolfucci de Gentili (1382–1388) **Augustin de Lanzano (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1388–1389) * Niccolo Caracciolo Moschino (1389) * Francesco Carbone Tomacelli (1389–1405)

1405–1899

* Antonio Caetani (seniore) (1405–1412)During the Council of Pisa penitentiaries originated from both obediences (Roman and Avignon) retained their posts and divided the duties between themselves (Kubelbeck, p. 16) * Pierre Girard (1409–1415) *

Giovanni Dominici Giovanni Dominici ( 1355 – 10 June 1419) was an Italian Catholic prelate and Dominican who became a cardinal. His ideas had a profound influence on the art of Fra Angelico who entered the order through him. But he once encountered difficultie ...

(1408–1415He was penitentiary of Pope Gregory XII of the Roman obedience.) * Giordano Orsini (1415–1438) * Niccolo Albergati (1438–1443) *

Giuliano Cesarini Julian Cesarini the Elder ( It.: ''Giuliano Cesarini, seniore'') (1398 in Rome – 10 November 1444 in Varna, Ottoman Empire) was one of the group of brilliant cardinals created by Pope Martin V on the conclusion of the Western Schism. His ...

(1444) * Giovanni Berardi (1444–1449) *

Domenico Capranica Domenico Capranica (1400 – 14 July 1458) was an Italian theologian, canonist, statesman, and Cardinal. Life Cardinal Capranica was born in Capranica Prenestina. His younger brother, Angelo, also became a cardinal. After studies in cano ...

(1449–1458) * Filippo Calandrini (1459–1476) *

Giuliano della Rovere Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or the ...

(1476–1503) * Pedro Luis de Borja-Lanzol de Romaní (1503–1511) *

Leonardo Grosso della Rovere Leonardo Grosso della Rovere (1464 – 17 September 1520) (called the Cardinal of Agen) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Leonardo Grosso della Rovere was born in Savona in 1464, the son of Antonio Grosso and Maria ...

(1511–1520) *

Lorenzo Pucci Lorenzo Pucci (18 August 1458 – 16 September 1531) was an Italian cardinal and bishop from the Florentine Pucci family. His brother Roberto Pucci and his nephew Antonio Pucci also became cardinals. Biography Pucci was born in Florence. He b ...

(1520–1529) * Antonio Pucci (1529–1544) * Roberto Pucci (1545–1547) * Ranuccio Farnese, O. S. Io. Hieros. (1547–1565) *

Carlo Borromeo Charles Borromeo ( it, Carlo Borromeo; la, Carolus Borromeus; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was the Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation combat a ...

(1565–1572) *

Giovanni Aldobrandini Giovanni Aldobrandini (1525 – 7 September 1573) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. A member of the Aldobrandini family, Giovanni Aldobrandini was born in Fano in 1525, the son of Salvestro Aldobrandini, governor of Fano, and L ...

(1572–1573) * Stanisław Hozjusz (1574–1579) *

Filippo Boncompagni Filippo Boncompagni (7 September 1548 – 9 June 1586) was an Italian Cardinal, created by Pope Gregory XIII (his uncle) on 2 June 1572. Biography Born at Bologna, he served as superintendent general of the Papal States (Cardinal-Nephew) durin ...

(1579–1586) * Ippolito Aldobrandini (1586–1592) * Giulio Antonio Santori (1592–1602) *

Pietro Aldobrandini Pietro Aldobrandini (31 March 1571 – 10 February 1621) was an Italian cardinal and patron of the arts. Biography He was made a cardinal in 1593 by his uncle, Pope Clement VIII. He took over the duchy of Ferrara in 1598 when it fell to the Pa ...

(1602–1605) * Cinzio Passeri Aldobrandini (1605–1610) *

Scipione Borghese Scipione Borghese (; 1 September 1577 – 2 October 1633) was an Italian Cardinal, art collector and patron of the arts. A member of the Borghese family, he was the patron of the painter Caravaggio and the artist Bernini. His legacy is the establ ...

(1610–1633) *

Antonio Marcello Barberini Antonio Marcello Barberini, O.F.M. Cap. (18 November 1569 – 11 September 1646) was an Italian cardinal

, O.F.M.Cap. (1633–1646) * Orazio Giustiniani, Orat. (1647–1649) * Niccolò Albergati-Ludovisi (1650–1687) * Leandro Colloredo, Orat. (1688–1709) *

Fabrizio Paolucci Fabrizio Paolucci (2 April 1651 – 12 June 1726) was an Italian cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, appointed by Pope Innocent XII. Biography Born at Forlì, he went to Rome at the age of eight, in 1659, to be educated by his grand-uncle ...

, pro-penitentiary (1709–1710); penitentiary (1710–1721) * Bernardo Maria Conti, O.S.B.Cas. (1721–1730) * Vincenzo Petra, pro-penitentiary (1730); penitentiary (1730–1747) * Gioacchino Besozzi, O.Cist. (1747–1755) * Antonio Andrea Galli, C.R.SS.S. (1755–1767) * Giovanni Carlo Boschi (1767–1788) *

Francesco Saverio Zelada Francesco Saverio eZelada (27 August 1717, in Rome – 19 December 1801, in Rome) was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, born of a Spanish family, who served in the Papal Curia and in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He was educat ...

(1788–1801) * Leonardo Antonelli (1801–1811) *

Michele di Pietro Michele di Pietro J.U.D. (18 January 1747 – 2 July 1821) was an Roman Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide. He was an unc ...

(1811–1821) *

Francesco Saverio Castiglioni Pope Pius VIII ( it, Pio VIII; born Francesco Saverio Maria Felice Castiglioni; 20 November 1761 – 30 November 1830), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 31 March 1829 to his death in November 1830. Pius VIII's ...

(1821–1829) who was elected

Pope Pius VIII Pope Pius VIII ( it, Pio VIII; born Francesco Saverio Maria Felice Castiglioni; 20 November 1761 – 30 November 1830), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 31 March 1829 to his death in November 1830. Pius VIII's ...

Emmanuele de Gregorio Emmanuele de Gregorio (18 December 1758 – 7 November 1839) was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and son of Leopoldo de Gregorio, Marquis of Esquilache. Biography De Gregorio was born at sea while his mother was travelling to ...

(1829–1839) *

Castruccio Castracane degli Antelminelli Castruccio Castracane degli Antelminelli (Urbino, 21 September 1779 – Rome, 22 February 1852) was an Italian clergyman, who was made a cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI Pope Gregory XVI ( la, Gregorius XVI; it, Gregorio XVI; born Bartolomeo A ...

(1839–1852) *

Gabriele Ferretti Gabriele Ferretti (; Ancona, 31 January 1795 – Rome, 13 September 1860) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals. Personal life He was born into nobility, the son of Palatine Count ''Liverotto Ferrett ...

(1852–1860) *

Antonio Maria Cagiano de Azevedo Antonio Maria Cagiano de Azevedo (14 December 1797 – 13 January 1867) was a Catholic Cardinal and held a number of significant legal positions within the Catholic Church during the 19th century. Personal life Cagiano was born 14 December 1797 ...

(1860–1867) * ntonio Maria Panebianco O.F.M.Conv. (1867–1877) *

Luigi Bilio Luigi Maria Bilio, C.R.S.P. (25 March 1826 – 30 January 1884), was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who, among other offices, was Secretary of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. Life Bilio was born in Alessandria, P ...

, C.R.S.P. (1877–1884) *

Raffaele Monaco La Valletta Raffaele Monaco La Valletta S.T.D. J.U.D. (23 February 1827 – 14 July 1896) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Secretary of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. Education Raffaele Monaco La Vallett ...

(1884–1896) *

Isidoro Verga Isidoro Verga (29 April 1832 – 10 August 1899) was an Italian canon lawyer and cardinal. He was created cardinal in 1884, and became bishop of Albano and Apostolic Penitentiary in 1896, and given the titular church In the Catholic Church, a ...

(1896–1899)

1899–present

* Serafino Vannutelli (20 November 1899 – 19 August 1915) *

Willem Marinus van Rossum Willem Marinus van Rossum, C.Ss.R. (3 September 1854 – 30 August 1932) was a Dutch prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was made a cardinal in 1911, led the Apostolic Penitentiary from 1915 to 1918, and served as Prefect of the Congre ...

, CSSR (1 October 1915 - 12 March 1918) *

Oreste Giorgi Oreste Giorgi (19 May 1856 – 30 December 1924) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary. Early life and priesthood Oreste Giorgi was born in Valmontone, Italy. He was educat ...

(12 March 1918 – 30 December 1924) * Andreas Franz Frühwirth, O.P. (8 January 1925 – 31 July 1927) *

Lorenzo Lauri Lorenzo Lauri (15 October 1864 – 8 October 1941) was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary from 1927 and Camerlengo from 1939 until his death and was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1926. Biograph ...

(31 July 1927 – 8 October 1941) *

Nicola Canali Nicola Canali (6 June 1874 – 3 August 1961) was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State from 1939 and as Major Penitentiary from 1941 until his death, and w ...

(15 October 1941 – 3 August 1961) *

Arcadio Larraona Saralegui Arcadio María Larraona Saralegui, C.M.F. (13 November 1887 – 7 May 1973) was a Spanish cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites from 1962 to 1968, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 19 ...

, C.M.F. (13 August 1961 – 2 February 1962) *

Fernando Cento Fernando Cento (10 August 1883 – 13 January 1973) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary. Early life Fernando Cento was born in Pollenza, Italy. His parents were Evaristo Cento and ...

(12 February 1962 – 7 April 1967) * Giuseppe Ferretto (7 April 1967 – 1 March 1973) * Giuseppe Paupini (21 March 1973 – 8 April 1984) *

Luigi Dadaglio Luigi Dadaglio (28 September 1914 – 22 August 1990) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal and Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Early life He was born in Sezzadio, Italy. He was educated at the Seminary of Acqui. He was ordained o ...

(Pro-Major Penitentiary: 8 April 1984 – 27 May 1985; Major Penitentiary: 27 May 1985 – 6 April 1990) *

William Wakefield Baum William Wakefield Baum (November 21, 1926 – July 23, 2015) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in Missouri (1970–1973) and archbishop of the Archdiocese of W ...

(6 April 1990 – 22 November 2001) * Luigi De Magistris (Pro-Major Penitentiary: 22 November 2001 – 4 October 2003) * James Francis Stafford (4 October 2003 – 2 June 2009) * Fortunato Baldelli (2 June 2009 – 5 January 2012) * Manuel Monteiro de Castro (5 January 2012 – 21 September 2013) *

(21 September 2013 – present)

References

Citations

Sources

* John Paul II
''Pastor bonus'', art. 117–120
* * William J. Kubelbeck, ''The Sacred Penitentiaria and Its Relations to Faculties of Ordinaries and Priests'', 2004.

External links

at the Vatican website.

{{Authority control Confession (Catholic Church) Ecclesiastical courts Sacramental law Tribunals of the Roman Curia