PENITENTIARY, is also an officer, in some cathedrals, vested with power from the bishop to absolve, in cases referred to him. The pope has at present his grand penitentiary, who is a cardinal and the chief of the other penitentiary priests established in the church of Rome, who consult him in all difficult cases. He presides in the penitentiary, dispatches dispensations, absolutions, &c. and has under him a regent and proctor.