Apostolic Delegate

An official permanent papal representative from the Holy See to the Roman Catholic Church of a given area, usually where no Nuncio* is appointed. His office is ecclesiastical, not diplomatic, with the duties of observing and reporting to the Holy See on the life of the church and of communicating instructions of all kinds from Rome to the church. A delegate was appointed to the American Catholic Church in 1892- 93, the British in 1938, the Canadian in 1899.