Catholic Church. Poenitentiaria Apostolica

The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction for the sacramental and nonsacramental internal forum (i.e., matters affecting the private spiritual good of individuals); issues decisions on questions of conscience; grants absolutions, dispensations, commutations, sanations and condonations; and has charge of nondoctrinal matters pertaining to indulgences.

It is one of the three tribunals of the Holy See. Some find traces of it, or at least the idea for it, in the works of the presbyteri poenitentium instituted in the time of Pope Cornelius (251-253) for the absolution of the lapsi (those Christians who during the imperial persecutions had renounced the faith in order to escape torture and then later repented and sought to be reunited to the ecclesiastical community).

...