Papal consistory

In the Roman Catholic Church a consistory is a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals called by the pope.

[5] Early popes conferred with their Roman presbytery which included the deacons appointed to oversee different parts of Rome.

[5] With the Gregorian Reform, the Church limited outside influences on the papacy and the selection of popes and the power of cardinals increased.

Tradition developed that the pope would use consistories (closer to twice-yearly by the 17th century) to reveal a list of those that were to be elevated to the rank of cardinal.

[7] In 2007 and 2010 he held a day-long meeting with the entire College, the cardinals designate, and various advisers on the day preceding the Consistory of Creation.

[9] Francis has created cardinals at ten consistories at roughly annual intervals, as of December 2024[update].