Legates

Persons sent by the pope to sovereigns or governments, or merely to members of the episcopate and faithful of a country, as his representatives. Legates d latere hold the first rank among those who are honored by a legation; they are always chosen from the College of Cardinals, and are called d latere in imitation of the magistrates of ancient Rome, who were taken from the court or side of the emperor.

Legati nati

Legates who by their appointment to a certain see became ipso facto apostolic legates, since the office was attached to the see itself. By the 11th century they had practically ceased to exist.

Legati missi

Envoys sent upon some special mission. The appointment dates from the 10th and 11th centuries.

Nuncio.

A name applied to legati missi in the 13th century. Besides having an ecclesiastical mission, they have also a diplomatic character, having been from their origin accredited to courts or governments.

Internuncios.

Envoys ranking as nuncios and sen! to smaller states.

Apostolic delegates

Papal representatives sent to missionary countries or to countries w'hich do not maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See, as the United States. The Congress of Vienna, of 1815, in determining the question of precedence among diplomatic representatives, placed legates and nuncios in the same class with ambassa- i dors (q. r.). See Catholic Encyc., Legates.