CANONICAL VISITATION. — According to the present canonical legislation—which is the result of numerous norms previously promulgated by the Roman Pontiffs—authors commonly define canonical visitation as “a diligent and careful investigation or inquiry, conducted in a solemn and proper manner, concerning all matters to which the persons visited are bound to observe; together with the right to correct and reform any abuses that the visitor may discover” (cf. A. Villagut, *Speculum visitatorum* [q.V. bibliography], p. 3).
The constitutive elements of visitation are therefore reduced to four: a) the investigation (inquisitio) of both persons and things, as well as places (cf. can. 344; 512; 511; 513); b) the visitor’s power to correct, through juridical dispositions, any abuses found (cf. can. 513 § 1); c) the visitation is conducted by the visitor with authority (cf. can. 513 § 2; 2413); d) both the investigation and any correction must be carried out with canonical formalities, in accordance with the *Codex Iuris Canonici* (cf. can. 344; 512; 511). In relation to the visitor’s authority, the visitation may be jurisdictional or disciplinary, depending on whether it is conducted with jurisdiction or merely with dominative power: both forms possess juridical character and are to be considered canonical. According to the manner in which it is conducted, it may be judicial, if performed with the formalities of procedural law, or paternal, if carried out through administrative means. With reference to time, canonical visitation is termed ordinary or extraordinary, depending on whether it is conducted at fixed intervals or not (cf. can. 343, 344; 511, 512 § 1, n. 2). In relation to its scope, it may be total or partial, depending on whether it is conducted over all matters or only certain objects or things (cf. can. 512 § 2, nn. 2 and 3; 618).
There are also in the Church visitations that occur occasionally with a special mandate from authority, such as apostolic visitations, in which the visitor acts with a direct mandate from the Holy See. In this case, the authority and powers of the apostolic visitor are determined by the nature of the mandate received. Such visitations are not infrequent; the *Codex Iuris Canonici* has not established special norms in this regard, due to the extraordinary nature of this type of visitation, for which the Holy See, according to the needs, circumstances, and real factors suggesting their appropriateness, establishes special powers and modalities for the visitor. Apostolic visitors are usually sent by the following dicasteries: the Sacred Consistorial Congregation for the overall organization of dioceses; the Sacred Congregation for Religious for the discipline of religious orders and congregations; the Sacred Congregation of the Council for matters relating to the discipline of the clergy and Christian people; the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Universities of Studies for matters concerning the moral and cultural formation of candidates for the priesthood (in Italy there is a permanent apostolic visitor). The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, when necessary, usually sends apostolic visitors for matters within its competence; the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments sometimes sends apostolic visitors to oversee tribunals handling matrimonial cases.
The end that the Church has set for itself or proposes to achieve whenever it orders a visitation is essential, as stated in can. 343 § 1: “To preserve sound and orthodox doctrine, to safeguard good morals, to correct the wicked, to promote peace, innocence, piety, and discipline among the people and clergy, and to establish other measures conducive to the good of religion according to the circumstances...” Special ends may be suggested by singular situations and circumstances, which are usually examined by special visitors, such as apostolic visitors.