Editing Roman Curia (section)

==Institutions of Justice==
[[File:Giorgio Vasari, Scomunica di Federico II da parte di Gregorio IX, 1572-73, 03 (cropped).jpg|thumb|A depiction of [[Pope Gregory IX]] excommunicating Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]].]] "The service of the Institutions of Justice is one of the essential functions in the government of the Church. The objective of this service, pursued by each institution in the forum of its own competence, is that of the Church's mission: to proclaim and inaugurate the Kingdom of God and to work, through the order of justice applied with canonical equity, for the salvation of souls, which is always the supreme law in the Church" (''Praedicate evangelium'' Article 189 § 1).

===Apostolic Penitentiary===
{{Main|Apostolic Penitentiary}}

The Apostolic Penitentiary,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/index.htm |title=Apostolic Penitentiary&nbsp;– Index |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref> is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church. The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction only over matters in the [[Internal and external forum (Catholic canon law)|internal forum]]. Its work falls mainly into these categories:
* the absolution of excommunications ''latæ sententiæ'' reserved to the Holy See,
* the dispensation of sacramental impediments reserved to the Holy See, and
* the issuance and governance of [[indulgence]]s.
The current Major Penitentiary is [[Angelo De Donatis|Angelo de Donatis]].

===Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura===
{{main|Apostolic Signatura}}

The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura<ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2011 |title=Apostolic Signatura |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_signat/index.htm |access-date=26 July 2013 |publisher=Vatican.va}}</ref> is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church besides the Pope himself, who is the supreme ecclesiastical judge. In addition, it is an administrative office for matters pertaining to the judicial activity of the whole church.

Appeals in standard judicial processes, if appealed to the Apostolic See, normally are not handled by the Signatura. Those go to the [[Roman Rota]], which is the ordinary appellate tribunal of the Apostolic See. The Supreme Tribunal handles some of the more specialized kinds of cases, including the following:
* complaints of nullity and requests for ''[[Restitutio ad integrum|restitutio in integrum]]'' against judgments of the Roman Rota;
* appeals, in cases concerning the status of persons, against the refusal of a new examination of the case decided by the Roman Rota;
* exceptions of suspicion and other cases against judges of the Roman Rota for acts performed in the exercise of their office; and 
* conflicts of jurisdiction between tribunals, which do not depend on the same Appellate Court.

Although a Rotal decision can be appealed, if not ''[[res judicata]]'', to a different panel (''turnus'') of the Rota, there is no right of appeal from a decision of the Signatura,<ref>{{cite web |title=Code of Canon Law&nbsp;– IntraText |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P6D.HTM |access-date=26 July 2013 |publisher=Vatican.va}}</ref> although a complaint of nullity on formal grounds is possible.<ref>{{cite web |title=Code of Canon Law&nbsp;– IntraText |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P6C.HTM |access-date=26 July 2013 |publisher=Vatican.va}}</ref> As an administrative office, it exercises jurisdiction (vigilance) over all the tribunals of the Catholic Church. It can also extend the jurisdiction of tribunals, grant dispensations for procedural laws, establish interdiocesan tribunals, and correct advocates.

The current prefect is [[Dominique Mamberti|Dominique François Joseph Cardinal Mamberti]].

===Tribunal of the Rota Romana===
{{Main|Roman Rota}}

The Tribunal of the Roman Rota is the highest [[appellate court|appellate tribunal]].<ref name="PB:Rota">{{cite web |url = https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19880628_pastor-bonus-index_en.html |title=Pastor Bonus, Table of Contents&nbsp;– John Paul II&nbsp;– Apostolic Constitution (28 June 1988) |publisher=Vatican.va |date=28 June 1988 |access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref> While usually trying cases in appeal in third instance (as is normally the case in the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]]),<ref>Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium [CCEO] canon 1065</ref> or even in second instance if appeal is made to it directly from the sentence of a tribunal of first instance, it is also a court of first instance for cases specified in the law and for others committed to the Rota by the Roman Pontiff.<ref name=PB:Rota/><ref>Codex Iuris Canonici [CIC] canons 1443, 1444.</ref> It fosters the unity of jurisprudence and, through its own sentences, is a help to lower tribunals.<ref name=PB:Rota/>

The greater part of its decisions concern the [[nullity of marriage]]. In such cases its competence includes marriages between two Catholics, between a Catholic and non-Catholic, and between two non-Catholic parties whether one or both of the baptized parties belongs to the Latin or an Eastern Rite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewtn.com/HolySee/Curia/Tribunals.asp |title=The See of Peter&nbsp;– TRIBUNALS |publisher=Ewtn.com |access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref>

The court is named ''Rota'' (Latin for: wheel) because the judges, called ''auditors'', originally met in a round room to hear cases.<ref>Edward Peters, ''Canon Law—Canonistics—Rota Background'', http://www.canonlaw.info/personal_rotademo.htm (updated 21 October 2006).</ref>

The current Dean is Most Reverend Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, C.O.R.C.