The Apostolic Penitentiary is one of the the Roman Church’s three great tribunals, and it has the highest dignity. It deals with matters of conscience, internal forum or confession issues, some particular censures and the concession of indulgences. It is so important that even with the death of a Pope, the Major Penitentiary of the Church, usually a Cardinal, does not lose his office as do most of the members of the Curia.