Apostolic Penitentiary

The Apostolic Penitentiary, in Latin Paenitentiaria Apostolica and formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is a dicastery of the Roman Curia led by the major penitentiary and is one of the three ordinary tribunals of the Holy See. It is chiefly a tribunal of mercy concerned with the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church, and its jurisdiction covers only matters of the internal forum. Its work includes absolving excommunications latae sententiae reserved to the Holy See, dispensing sacramental impediments reserved to the Holy See, and issuing and governing indulgences. The major penitentiary keeps his post when the see is vacant.