CONSISTORY, at Rome, denotes the college of cardinals, or the pope's senate and council, before whom judiciary causes are pleaded. Du Cange derives the word from consistorium; i. e. locus ubi consistitur; used chiefly for a vestibule, gallery, or anti-chamber, where the courtiers wait for admission: and so called a consistente multitudine.
The consistory is the first court, or tribunal of Rome: it never meets but when the pope pleases to convocate it: the pope presides in it in person, mounted on a magnificent throne, and habited in his pontificalia; on the right are the cardinal-bishops and priests, and on the left the cardinal-deacons. The place where it is held, is a large hall in the apostolical palace, where princes and ambassadors of kings are received. The other prelates, prothonotaries, auditors of the rota, and other officers, are seated on the steps of the throne: the courtiers sit on the ground; ambassadors on the right, and consistorial and fiscal advocates behind the cardinals.
Besides the public consistory, there is also a private one, held in a retired chamber, called the chamber of papagay; the pope's throne here being only raised two steps high. Nobody is here admitted but the cardinals, whose opinions are collected, and called sentences. Here are first proposed and passed all bulls for bishoprics, abbeys, &c. Hence bishoprics and abbeys are said to be consistorial benefices; in regard they must be proposed in the consistory, the annates be paid to the pope, and his bulls taken. Anciently they were elective; but by the concordat, which abolishes elections, they are appointed to be collated by the pope alone, on the nomination of the prince.