A Pontifical Delegate is a cleric who is delegated by the Pope.

Specifically, this title is used for the following ecclesiastical offices in the gift of the Pope (who is Pontifex Maximus, hence the adjective):

a prelate (usually an Archbishop or Cardinal) appointed to represent the Holy See in the administration of certain pontifical minor basilicas, notably:

• Pontifical Delegation for the Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari

• Pontifical Delegation for the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto

• Pontifical Delegation for the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua

• Pontifical Delegation for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii

• a papal legate or papal diplomat, such as a Nuncio

• an extraordinary papal representative to a religious congregation, e.g. the thirty-third General Congregation of the Jesuits

• a papal representative appointed to exercise certain rights reserved, thus limiting the authority of a major archbishop, as in the case of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

See also

• Apostolic delegate

• Pontifical legate

References