The Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes; Ecclesiastical Latin: [sakta sedes]) is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic

Church in Rome, the

episcopal see of the Pope, and an independent sovereign entity. It serves as the central point of reference for the Catholic Church everywhere and
the focal point of communion due to its position as the pre-eminent episcopal see of the universal church. It traces its origin to the 1st century
during the apostolic era, when Saint Peter arrived in Rome to evangelise and formed a significant early Christian community of believers there.
Today, it is responsible for the governance of all Catholics, organised in their Particular Churches, Patriarchates and religious institutes.

As an independent sovereign entity, holding the Vatican City enclave in Rome as sovereign territory, it maintains diplomatic relations with other
states. It is viewed as analogous to a state while administered by the Roman Curia (Latin for Roman Court), similar to a centralised government
with the Cardinal Secretary of State as its chief administrator, and various dicasteries, comparable to ministries and executive departments.

Diplomatically, the Holy See acts and speaks for the whole church. It is also recognised by other subjects of international law as a sovereign entity,
headed by the Pope, with which diplomatic relations can be maintained.[2][3] Often informally referred to as "the Vatican", the "Holy See" is not
the same entity as the "Vatican City State", which came into existence only in 1929 because of the Lateran Treaty; the Holy See, the episcopal see
of Rome, dates back to antiquity. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to "the Holy See", and Papal
representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. The creation of
the Vatican City state was meant to ensure the diplomatic and spiritual independence of the Pope.

Nuncio (officially known as an Apostolic nuncio and also known as a papal nuncio) is the title for an ecclesiastical diplomat, being an envoy or
permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or international organization. A nuncio is appointed by and represents the Holy See,
and is the head of the diplomatic mission, called an Apostolic Nunciature, which is the equivalent of an embassy. The Holy See is legally distinct
from the Vatican City or the Catholic Church. A nuncio is usually an archbishop.

A papal nuncio is generally equivalent in rank to that of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, although in Catholic countries the nuncio
often ranks above ambassadors in diplomatic protocol. A nuncio performs the same functions as an ambassador and has the same diplomatic
privileges

In addition, the nuncio serves as the liaison between the Holy See and the Church in that particular nation, supervising the diocesan episcopate
(usually a national conference of bishops which has its own chairman, usually the highest-ranking bishop or archbishop, especially if his seat carries
the title of primate or he has individually been created a cardinal) and has an important role in the selection of bishops
.