Pozycja prawna legatów papieskich w prawie kanonicznym i międzynarodowym

The key issue discussed by the author is the issue of the legal position of papal legates in canon and international law. The author presents first the historical aspect of the institution of the papal legates and argues that from the beginning of the Church the legates were present in it. The development of the Church and the increase in the number of followers and the emer-gence of new problems made it impossible for the Roman Pontiff a personal presence in the local Churches, hence he was sending his representatives to them. As a rule, they did not have jurisdiction, but they performed diploma-tic functions, and other tasks Church entrusted to them. The Middle Ages strengthened the position of papal legates. From the ninth century, a new quality appeared in their activities. They were sent to lay rulers of various countries to guard the affairs of the Church. In the thirteenth century, the office of the Apostolic Nuncio appears and further clarification of the rights of the papal legates. Unfortunately, their great power, and in fact its abuse, caused conflicts with local Ordinaries and state rulers. Hence, attempts were made to regulate the activities of the legates. It was not until the fif-teenth century, however, with the emergence of new state organisms, that stabilization in church and state diplomacy occured. Subsequent centuries brought weakness to the activity of diplomacy of the Holy See; only in the nineteenth century, and more specifically after the Congress of Vienna, its revival took place. During World War I and World War II, papal legates focused on efforts to stop war conflicts and helping victims of wars. Cur-rently, legates are established at local Churches, by the State governments and international organizations. Canon and international law defines their tasks, depending on the subject at which they act. By fulfilling the mission of representing the Bishop of Rome, they express his concern for the unity of the Church, and also show his commitment to the problems of all mankind.