ABLEGATE. - This name designates an ecclesiastic appointed by the Pontiff to carry out particular missions, such as: 1) bringing the blessed swaddling bands for newborn princely heirs to sovereigns; 2) delivering the insignia of the blessed sword and cap to new sovereigns or to commanders of armies who have rendered meritorious service to the Church in defense of religion; 3) bringing the cardinal's biretta to new cardinals absent from Rome; 4) bringing the golden rose (v.) to princesses or to other personages distinguished for services rendered to the Church, or to eminent sanctuaries and cathedral churches. For this last ceremony, now rare, there are usually designated nuncios or bishops, accompanied by a prince chosen from among the two delegates as bearers of the golden rose, belonging one to the Barberini family, the other to the Lancellotti family.
More frequent, and at present virtually the sole office of the ablegato, is the delivery of the cardinal's biretta. When a nuncio apostolic in office is created cardinal, the Pontiff sends him the red biretta by means of the ablegato, who is, or becomes on this occasion, a secret chamberlain. Particularly charged with this mission would be the participating secret chamberlain, who indeed bears the title of Nuntius; but the Pontiff may entrust it to other persons and even, exceptionally, to a layman.