Developments of the Holy See’s Representation in India
(1884 – 2013)
Apostolic Delegation
The Holy See’s Representation in India began with the establishment of Permanent
Apostolic Delegation to the East Indies on 25 September 1884 when Pope Leo XIII
appointed Archbishop Antonio Agliardi as Papal Representative.
The Apostolic Delegation is Pope’s permanent mission to the local Church, without
having formal diplomatic status with the hosting government. The Apostolic Delegation
Apostolic Internunciature
On 12 June 1948 the Apostolic Delegation of the East Indies was raised to the rank
of Apostolic Internunciature (interim nunciature) by Pope Pius XII. It was headed
by Prelates appointed and sent by the Pope as diplomatic representatives of the
Holy See. They belonged to the second class (after Nuncios) of Holy See diplomatic
representatives, with the rank of an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
and they were officially known as Apostolic Internuncios (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Apostolic Nunciature
Eventually the Apostolic Internuciature of the East Indies became an Apostolic Nunciature
on 22 August 1967 during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. The Apostolic Nunciature
is a diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy, headed by a Papal
Nuncio (from Latin nuntius, meaning ‘messenger’), with ambassadorial rank, officially
known as Apostolic Nuncio. He is a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy
See accredited to a State or International Organization with full diplomatic relations.
In 1967 and 1973 Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Burma (now Myamar) were respectively
detached from the Apostolic Nunciature of East Indies, while Malaca, as part of
modern Malaysia, was detached earlier in 1957. They became separate Apostolic Nunciatures.
130 years of the Nunciature
Diocese Summary
Bishops' Summary