pronuncio

A nuncio is a Vatican representative accredited as an ambassador to a civil government that has official diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The nuncio's role is to foster good relations between the government and the Holy See, and to observe and report to the pope on the conditions of the Roman Catholic Church in that region. A full nuncio is appointed only to countries that follow the Congress of Vienna decision, which designates the papal representative as the automatic dean of the diplomatic corps. In 1965, the title of pronuncio was introduced for ambassadors whose diplomatic rank is based solely on seniority. An internuncio is a Vatican diplomat with the rank of minister plenipotentiary, performing duties similar to a nuncio.1