Catholic Church. Audientia Litterarum Contradictarum.

The Audientia is an old institution of the Roman Curia which originally belonged to the Apostolic Chancery (ID VATV032-A). It flourished from the thirteenth century to the sixteenth, when it was replaced by the creation of the Signatura Gratiae et Iustitiae (see ID VATV027-A).

The function of this Audientia was to hear cases referred to the pope, and to hear judicial or administrative cases involving indults, privileges, or dispensations. Letters of justice were published by being read in this Audientia, and they could be protested here.

The head of the Audientia, the auditor contradictarum, was, after the thirteenth century, one of the ordinary judges of the Roman Curia. However, he was at the same time a functionary of the Apostolic Chancery. His task was to regulate and systematize the dispatch of papal letters. He also worked to ensure the more technical and precise expression of canon law, distinguishing between what was appropriate to judicial functions and to administrative functions.

The apostolic rescripts fell into two large categories of affairs: litterae de gratia and litterae de iustitia. The essential difference between the two categories was that the former had to be approved and signed by the pope while the others were dispatched by the vice-chancellor or a notary of the chancery.

To see a general agency history for the Curia Romana, enter "FIN ID VATV214-A"

From the description of Agency history record. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 145567162