CONSISTORY, at Rome, denotes the college of cardinals, or the pope's senate and council, before which causes are pleaded. The word is derived from the post-classical Latin consistorium, which, according to Du Cange, is locus ubi constituitur; a vestibule, gallery, or ante-chamber, where courtiers wait for admission, and so called a consistente multitudine.
The consistory is the first court or tribunal of Rome, and only meets when convoked by the pope, who presides in person, seated on a magnificent throne, and habited in his pontifical robes. On the right are the cardinal-bishops and priests, and on the left the cardinal-deacons. It is held in a large hall in the apostolical palace where princes and ambassadors are received. The rest of the prelates, the prothonotaries, auditors of the rota, and other officers, are seated on the steps of the throne. The courtiers sit below, ambassadors on the right, and consistorial and fiscal advocates behind the cardinals.
Besides the public, there is also a private consistory, held in a chamber called the chamber of papogay. None are admitted but cardinals, whose opinions are collected, and called sentences. Here are first proposed and passed all bulls for bishoprics, abbey, &c.; and hence bishoprics and abbey are said to be consistorial benefices. 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.