nunciature
(ˈnʌnʃ(ɪ)ətjʊə(r))
Also 7 nuntiature.
[ad. It. nunziatura (= Sp. and Pg. nunciatura, F. nonciature), f. nunzio nuncio.]
1. The representation of the Pope at a foreign court by his nuncio; the office of nuncio.
| 1652 Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Hist. Relat. 51 All Affairs of Religion which occur in those Kingdoms, fall likewise under the same Nuntiature. 1670–98 R. Lassels Voy. Italy I. 12 They are good for Nunciatures, Embassies, and State employments. 1710 Lond. Gaz. No. 4775/2 The Pope's Nuncio was lodged in the palace of the nunciature. 1768 Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe 9/1 It was also resolved..to suppress the jurisdiction of the Nunciature. 1858 tr. Life Xavier 44 Xavier replied that however vile such services might appear they would not degrade the dignity of the Nunciature. 1887 Pall Mall G. 11 July 7/1 The time has not arrived..for establishing anything resembling a nunciature or apostolic delegation in London. |
2. The period during which a given person holds the office of papal nuncio.
| 1662 J. Bargrave Pope Alex. VII (1867) 106 Some [churches] remaining without pastors all the time of his nuntiature. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals ii. iii. 186 He had been..pleas'd with his proceedings during his Nuntiature. 1706 tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 16th C. II. v. 121 A History..which he wrote during his Nunciature in Spain. 1818 Gentl. Mag. LXXXVIII. ii. 127 The Pope..sent him to the Court of Spain, during which Nunciature he was promoted to the purple. 1896 Vizetelly tr. Zola's Rome 28 First Leo's religious education at Rome, then his brief nunciature at Brussels. |