The Pope is not only the Bishop of Rome but as Vicar of Jesus Christ is also universal pastor of all the faithful, and has concern also for those outside the Church. He is also the center of unity and unifying element among the bishops of the local Churches and the faithful. He has moreover to confirm his brethren in the episcopate (Luke 22:32), that is, sustain, guide, encourage and comfort them by his presence in some way.

There is of course the possibility of correspondence. This is often resorted to. There is also the periodic 'ad limina' visit of the bishops to Rome which gives them and the Pope the opportunity to meet and personally communicate with one another. Modern progress in transportation has also made it possible for the Pope to occasionally visit local Churches.

A very practical way of ensuring the Pope's 'presence' in the local Churches has been the appointment of papal representatives who permanently reside in the territories concerned as a close link between the Pope and the local Churches. These representatives or legates, who are ecclesiastical usually of episcopal rank, have a very important function to perform in the service of the Church.

It should be noted that they are the representatives of the Pope not as head of a sovereign secular state (Vatican state) but as head of the Church. They are legates of the Holy See, and they are concerned essentially with the spiritual mission of the Church.

Pope Paul VI issued in 24th June 1969, an Apostolic Letter, giving the principles on which the practice of papal representation is based and norms for its functioning. These are embodied also in Church Law (Canons 362-367).

Legates may be sent to the Local Churches only, or to the Churches as well as states and governments, or to international organizations like UNESCO.

When papal legation concerns only the local Churches but not states and governments, the representative is called an Apostolic Delegate. His mission is not to supercede the exercise of powers of the local bishops but to foster and sustain it and to strengthen the ties between them and the Apostolic See.

When to this legation of a religious and ecclesiastical nature is added the diplomatic legation to states and governments the papal representative may be a Nuncio, Pro-Nuncio or Internuncio.

Traditionally Catholic countries regard the Pope's representative as the Dean of the diplomatic corps accredited to them. In this case, the Pope's representative is a Nuncio. Otherwise a Pro-Nuncio. A Nuncio and Pro-Nuncio are equivalent to Ambassadors in international diplomatic law. An internuncio is an extra-ordinary envoy and minister plenipotentiary.

Papal representatives are agents for close contact with states for the realization of these objectives.