Pope Pius VIII: Signed Letter as Cardinal Castiglioni 1The artifact is an untranslated letter, written in Latin and Italian and signed by the future Pope Pius VIII who reigned from 1829 to 1830.
The letter is dated February of 1822 when Pius VIII was a cardinal and head of the Apostolic Penitentiary under Pope Pius VII.
It is signed F (ranciscus) X (averius) Card (inalis) Castillionus M (ajor) Pens’ (itentiary).
The letter, seal, and signature are all in very good condition.
It is a papal tribunal, whose origins go back to the twelfth century, delegated by the Pope to grant absolution from censures and certain dispensations reserved to the Holy See.
The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.
Pius VIII’s role as head of this dicastery during the papacy of Pope Pius VII is evidence of the renown in which he was held.
In 1967, Pope Paul VI confirmed the competence of this tribunal over all that embraces the internal forum, even nonsacramental, and to the use of indulgences, while reserving the right of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to examine the doctrinal aspects of indulgences.
