consistory

noun

con·​sis·​to·​ry kən-ˈsi-st(ə-)rē 

plural consistories

1

: a solemn assembly : council

2

: a church tribunal or governing body: such as

a

: a solemn meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals convoked and presided over by the pope

b

: a church session in some Reformed churches

3

: the organization that confers the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry usually from the 19th to the 32nd inclusive

also : a meeting of such an organization

consistorial

ˌkän-si-ˈstȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Examples of consistory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025

Here are some ways this conclave is different: The highest number of cardinal electors in any conclave Pope Paul VI set a rule in 1975 limiting the number of cardinal electors to 120, a norm that wasn’t strictly adhered to in the College of Cardinals meetings known as consistories. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 6 May 2025

Above, the latter is pictured kissing the hand of the pope during a consistory in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 21, 2001, in Vatican City. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Francis likes to keep people on their toes and will have known that announcing the consistory would set off plenty of speculation. —Christopher Lamb, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025

Since his election in 2013, Francis has held 10 consistories – special assemblies of the College of Cardinals – appointing a majority of the cardinals under 80 years old who will be eligible to elect his successor. —Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025

Last year, Pope Francis elevated Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, California, to cardinal during his August consistory. —Teddy Grant, ABC News, 9 July 2023

If Francis chooses to resign during the August consistory, that consistory would automatically become a conclave, with the cardinal-electors locked in the Sistine Chapel until a new pope has been chosen. —Grayson Quay, The Week, 7 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English consistorie "diocesan court, tribunal, session of a tribunal, council chamber," borrowed from Anglo-French consistorie, consistoire "court of law, diocesan court, convocation of cardinals," borrowed from Medieval Latin consistōrium "place of assembly, council, ecclesiastical court," going back to Late Latin, "place of assembly, habitation, privy council of the emperor," from Latin consistere "to come to a halt, remain at the same level, take up a position, continue in a place, reside, live" + -ōrium -ory entry 1 — more at consist entry 1

Note: The predominant Middle English form is constorie (with numerous variants, as cunstorie, constri), resulting from syncope of consistorie with original stress on the first syllable.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for consistory

• ethnohistory
• history
• mystery