ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Papal legate

So, let's pretend you have a really big family like the royal family, and sometimes you need help to make sure everyone behaves and follows the rules you set. That's kind of like the Pope, who is the leader of the Catholic Church. He has a lot of followers and people who look up to him, and he sometimes sends people to help make sure everything runs smoothly.

One of those people is called a papal legate. It's kind of like a messenger or a representative of the Pope, but with more authority. The legate gets sent to different countries or regions to talk to the people there about what the Pope wants them to do. Sometimes the legate also has the power to make important decisions or solve problems in the name of the Pope.

So, think of the papal legate as someone who is like the Pope's eyes, ears, and hands in different places. They make sure everyone is following the rules and doing what the Pope wants them to do. It's a really important job, and the Pope only chooses trusted people for this role.
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