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A papal Legate, from the Decretals of Boniface VIII (1294 to 1303). British Museum, 23923.

A Papal Legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the Pope to Foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters.

The legate is appointed directly by the Pope (the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church), hence a legate is usually sent to a government, a sovereign or to a large body of believers (such as a national church) or to take charge of a major religious effort, such as a crusade to the Holy Land, or even against a heresy such as the Cathars). The authority of the Pope to appoint and choose the legates has been contested several times in history.

The term legation is applied both to a legate's mandate and to the territory concerned (such as a state, or an ecclesiastical province). The relevant adjective is legatine.

There are several ranks of papal legates, some existed in different times:

For nations with whom the Holy See has no diplomatic ties, an Apostolic Delegate is sent to serve as a liaison with the Roman Catholic Church in that nation, though not accredited to the government of the state.

This highest rank (literally "from the (Pope's) side", i.e. "intimately" trusted) – awarded to a cardinal – is exceptional and usually very brief. He is the alter ego of the Pope, so as the Pope himself would be present.

Literally "born legate", i.e. not nominated individually but ex officio, notably a bishop holding the rank as a privilege of his see.

Literally "sent Legate", refers by contrast to a specific task ("mission")

Some administrative (temporal) provinces of the Papal States in central Italy were governed by a papal legate.

In four cases, including Bologna, this post was awarded to Cardinals; the Velletri post was created for Bartolomeo Cardinal Pacca.

• Nuncio – an envoy with a mostly diplomatic mission, in the regular circuit of relations between states etcetera – usually a titular archbishop.
• Internuncio – a lower rank than Nuncio. Internuncios are also usually titular archbishops, but they are emissaries to less important countries
• Vice-legate
• List of papal legates to England

Catholic Encyclopedia: Legate

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