GENERAL RELATOR. — Title of one of the official prelates of the S. Congregation of Rites (v.). He presides over the historical section, established within that Congregation by Pius XI, with the motu proprio of 6 February 1930 (AAS, 22 [1930], pp. 87–88), for the study of the historical causes of the servants of God and for the emendation of liturgical books, and in general for all questions of a historical-critical nature arising in the functioning of the Dicastery.
The g. r. is charged with directing the research and studies within the competence of the section, assisted by a vice g. r., several study assistants, and a suitable number of consultors specializing in the historical disciplines. He presides over the deliberations of these consultors and formulates their conclusions for submission to the cardinal prefect. As an official prelate of the Congregation, he attends the meetings of the Congress and those of the Congregation of Cardinals.