Indultum

Indultum is a Latin noun meaning permission, license, or concession. In Latin usage and in documents of the Catholic Church and other authorities, indulta signified a granted authorization for a specific act or practice that would otherwise be prohibited.

In canon law and ecclesiastical history, an indult is a formal allowance issued by a competent authority—often the pope or a local bishop—that permits a particular practice or exception to the rule. Indulta were typically limited in scope and duration, and could address matters such as liturgical practices, the use of a vernacular language, or exemptions from certain requirements.

Relation to indulgences: Indultum is distinct from indulgence (indulgentia). An indult grants temporary permission; an indulgence mitigates or remits temporal punishment due to sin. The two terms reflect different types of ecclesiastical concessions.

In modern scholarship, indulta are discussed in studies of canon law, liturgy, and church history. The term is primarily encountered in Latin texts, scholarly editions, or translations; in common English usage, “indult” is often used to denote a formal license granted by an authority, while the Latin term remains chiefly of historical interest.