Penitentiary

Penitentiary, the name given to one of the offices of the Papal court, and also to the dignitary (a cardinal, called Penitentiarius) who presides over it. The subjects which come under the notice of the penitentiary are all matters relating to the confessional, especially the absolution from sins and from canonical censures, reserved to the pope, and in certain cases dispensations from the impediments of marriage. See PRISONS.