Q & A with Fr John Flader. This week’s question: What is the role of a Papal Nuncio? Does he have authority over a Cardinal in the resident country? Can he stand down a recalcitrant bishop, for instance?
By Fr John Flader
I will begin by explaining the role of papal representatives in general. By the way, the more formal word for them is “papal legates”.
The Pope has diplomatic representatives before governments, local Churches, international organisations, and other bodies. These include in the first place diplomatic representatives like Nuncios, who represent the Pope in a stable way in different countries. They also include permanent observers before the UN, papal delegates to particular meetings like Eucharistic Congresses, etc. By way of information, in 2007 the Holy See had 118 pontifical embassies and 9 delegations at international organisations.
The papal diplomats can represent the Holy See either before both the civil government and the local Church, as is the case in Australia, or only before the Church, when the Holy See does not have diplomatic relations with the country.
In countries which have diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the papal representative has the title Nuncio. In the others he is an Apostolic Delegate.
The title Pro-Nuncio, which formerly applied to a papal representative who was not recognised as the dean of the diplomatic corps in the country, is no longer used.
In Australia, the papal representatives have had all three titles over the years, the first Apostolic Delegation having been established in 1914.
The first Pro-Nuncio was appointed by Pope Paul VI in 1973 and the first Nuncio by late Pope John Paul II in 1998.
The Nunciature is located in Canberra. Since March 2008, the Nuncio has been Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. An Italian by birth, he served in Jordan, Iraq and Ireland before coming to Australia.
What is the role of these representatives? According to the Code of Canon Law, their principal task is “continually to make more firm and effective the bonds of unity which exist between the Holy See and the particular Churches” (Can. 364).
That is, as the Pope’s representatives, in a sense they make the Holy Father present in the local Church, and they work together with the bishops in strengthening the Church and the relations between the Church and the Holy See.
More particularly, among their principal duties with respect to the local Church are to inform the Holy See about conditions in the country, to assist the bishops by their action and advice, to propose names to the Holy See and prepare documentation on suitable candidates to be appointed bishops, to work with the bishops to foster cooperation between the Catholic Church and other Churches or ecclesial communities, and to safeguard, with regard to the civil government, things that relate to the mission of the Church and the Holy See (cf. Can. 364).
As regards their responsibilities with respect to the civil government, they foster good relations between the Church and the civil authorities and they help to draw up concordats and other international agreements, always working closely with the bishops of the country (cf. Can. 365).
Returning to your specific questions, the Nuncio has no authority over a Cardinal or any other bishop in the country. As the Pope’s representative, he can give advice and instructions, but he has no direct authority over them. A Cardinal or bishop answers directly to the Holy Father.
Therefore, the Nuncio cannot stand down a recalcitrant bishop. If he felt there was a problem in some particular instance, he would inform the Holy See of his concerns and it would be up to the Holy Father to take whatever action he deemed appropriate, including asking the bishop to resign.
Fr Flader: director@caec.com.au