Legate

Legate, the name of the ambassador or representative, whether temporary or permanent, sent by the pope to a particular church. In the later constitution of the church three classes of legates are distinguished: (1) Legati a latere, 'legates despatched from the side' of the pontiff, who are commonly cardinals; (2) Legati missi, called also 'apostolic nuncios,' and including a lower grade called 'internuncios'; (3) Legati nati, 'legates born,' whose office is not personal, but is attached by ancient institution or usage to the see or other ecclesiastical dignity which they hold. Of the last class there were examples in most national churches; thus, the Bishop of Thessalonica was legate born for Illyricum, the Bishop of Arles for Gaul, the Bishop of Mainz for Germany, the Bishop of Toledo (though his claim was often disputed) for Spain, the Archbishop of Canterbury for England, &c. This institution, however, has gone entirely into abeyance; and, indeed, the authority of legates is much modified in the modern church. In the medieval times the legate claimed full papal jurisdiction in the country assigned to him, even overruling the local jurisdiction of the bishops of the national church. This led to many disputes; to refusals to receive legates, as in France, where the legate was obliged to wait at Lyons till his credentials should have been examined and approved at court; and to counter legislation, as in England to the statute of 16 Richard II., commonly known as the Statute of Premunire. The Council of Trent removed the ground of contention by abolishing all such claims to local jurisdiction as trenching upon the authority of the bishops. The legate, in the modern church, is little other than the ambassador, mainly for spiritual purposes, of the pope. He is held as belonging to the diplomatic body, and by the usage of Catholic courts enjoys precedence of all other ambassadors. The legates at the more important courts have the title of nuncio, at minor courts of internuncio. In 1890 there were apostolic nuncios at Vienna, Munich, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon; internuncios at the Hague and Rio Janeiro, and an apostolic delegate at Quito. In the States of the Church (q.v.) the governors of the Legations were called legates.