Pontifical Delegate
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 Archbishop of Cardinal) appointed to represent the Holy See in the administration of certain papal minor basilicas, notably:
- a papal legate, 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