A church tribunal or governing body.
A civil court of justice.
An assembly of cardinals presided over by the pope.
a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church
a meeting of the Pope with the College of Cardinals
a place of assemblage and also the assemblage itself, including a spiritual or ecclesiastical court, which originally was the privy council of the Roman emperor
A place of assembly, a council, from consistere, to stand together: A place of meeting; a council house or place of justice [Latin]. Consistory Court. In England, the courts of diocesan bishops held in their Cathedrals for trail of eccliseastical causes, and for granting probates and administrations.
a church council or tribunal for the formal meeting of those charged with organizational or spiritual decision-making