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nuncio

American  
[nuhn-shee-oh, -see-oh, noon-] / ˈnʌn ʃiˌoʊ, -siˌoʊ, ˈnʊn- /

noun

plural

nuncios

  1. a diplomatic representative of the pope at a foreign court or capital: equal in status to an ambassador.

nuncio British  
/ -sɪ-, ˈnʌnʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

  1. RC Church a diplomatic representative of the Holy See, ranking above an internuncio and esp having ambassadorial status

"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

Etymology

Origin of nuncio

1520–30; < Italian nuncio, nunzio < Latin nūncius, nūntius messenger

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who as papal nuncio is Pope Francis’ diplomatic representative to the United States, acknowledged tensions over the recently concluded synod but took a positive tone.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2023

Part of the trip’s goal, said Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio to the United States, was to dispel the idea among Americans that Benedict was “this tough, this inhuman, person.”

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2022

The list then goes to the Vatican nuncio, or ambassador, in a country, who further investigates the person and sends his recommendations to the Vatican.

From Reuters • Jul. 13, 2022

The reporter reported that current apostolic nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre “had expressed displeasure” about the coverage to Michael Warsaw, chief executive at EWTN.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2021

He came in all the state of a nuncio, though he had left his canopy downstairs.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.