curia
noun
cu·ria
ˈkyu̇r-ē-ə 
ˈku̇r-,
ˈkyər-
plural curiae
ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌē
ˈku̇r-ē-ˌī,
ˈkyər-
1
a
: a division of the ancient Roman people comprising several gentes of a tribe
b
: the place of assembly of one of these divisions
2
a
: the court of a medieval king
b
: a court of justice
3
often capitalized
: the body of congregations, tribunals, and offices through which the pope governs the Roman Catholic Church
Examples of curia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, was born in Brescia, Italy, and has spent five decades serving in the Roman curia.
—
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
His public persona may have been the humble and patient father figure, but Francis spent his 12 years as pope reorganizing the Vatican bureaucracy — the Roman curia — with more than a touch of ruthlessness.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
The pope spent the morning in physiotherapy, followed Lenten spiritual exercises of the Roman curia and stopped to pray at the chapel in the Gemelli Hospital.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
On Sunday evening, the pope watched live coverage of the first day of Spiritual Exercises for Lent for the Roman curia held in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican.
—Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
The suggestion that the curia had been built in phases is not new.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Feb. 2022
In 2003, Bishop Sean O’Malley took over, while Lennon stayed on as vicar general and moderator of the curia.
—Grant Segall, cleveland, 5 Nov. 2019
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
His public persona may have been the humble and patient father figure, but Francis spent his 12 years as pope reorganizing the Vatican bureaucracy — the Roman curia — with more than a touch of ruthlessness.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
The pope spent the morning in physiotherapy, followed Lenten spiritual exercises of the Roman curia and stopped to pray at the chapel in the Gemelli Hospital.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
On Sunday evening, the pope watched live coverage of the first day of Spiritual Exercises for Lent for the Roman curia held in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican.
—Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
The suggestion that the curia had been built in phases is not new.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Feb. 2022
In 2003, Bishop Sean O’Malley took over, while Lennon stayed on as vicar general and moderator of the curia.
—Grant Segall, cleveland, 5 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Curia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curia. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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