apostolic delegate

noun

a representative of the pope in a country that has no regular diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

Compare nuncio.

Origin of apostolic delegate

First recorded in 1905–10

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for apostolic delegate

apostolic delegate

noun

RC Church a representative of the pope sent to countries that do not have full or regular diplomatic relations with the Holy See

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012