Papal legate - Citizendia

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

A papal Legate, from the Decretals of Boniface VIII (1294 to 1303). Pope Boniface VIII (c 1235 &ndash October 11, 1303) born Benedetto Caetani, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1294 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. A legatus (often anglicized as legate) was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the

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 an ecumenical council, 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:

Apostolic Delegate

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 (see Nuncio). Nuncio is an ecclesiastical Diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word Nuntius, meaning "envoy

Legatus a Latere

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

Legatus Natus

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

Legatus Missus

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

Gubernatorial legates

Some administrative (temporal) provinces of the Papal States in central Italy were governed by a papal legate. The Papal States, State(s of the Church or Pontifical States (in Italian Stato Ecclesiastico, Stato della Chiesa, Stati della Chiesa

In four cases, including Bologna, this post was awarded to Cardinals; the Velletri post was created for Bartolomeo Cardinal Pacca. Bologna (boloɲa from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Bolognese dialect is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy Velletri is a Comune in the Province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio ( Latium) - Italy Bartolomeo Pacca ( 27 December 1756 - February 19 1844) was an Italian cardinal, scholar and statesman as Cardinal

References

Catholic Encyclopedia: Legate

A list of Papal legates active in England 1070 - Hubert signatory of the Accord of Winchester 1125 - John de Crema 1138-1139

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