Legate
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
canor law, legates are extraordinary ambassadors whom the pope sends into Catholic countries to represent him, and to exercise his jurisdiction there. It is under this ‘singular name that these ministers are distinguished from those of other powers, and from nuncios, who are the ordinary ambassadors of the POPE: There are three kinds of k gates; the first, egats a latere; they are so called for the same reason that the magistrates of ancient Rowe were called misst de latere, who were selected from the court, -or, as it were, from the side of the emperor. The legates are trustees from the sacred college, and the pope confers on them the plenitude of his power. The second class are the legatt mtsst, or those to whom a legation is committed although they are not cardinals. ‘The third class, legats nati, are archbishops to whose see is attached the quality ef a legate.