a formal speech, especially one of an incontrovertible or hortatory nature.
2.
a pronouncement delivered by the pope to a secret consistory, especially on a matter of policy or of general importance.
Origin: 1605–15; < Latin allocūtiōn- (stem of allocūtiō), equivalent to allocūt(us), past participle of alloquī to speak to, address (al-al- + locū- speak + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion