In thecanon law of theCatholic Church, aprocurator is one who acts on behalf of and by virtue of the authority of another.[1] In a monastery, the procurator is the friar, monk or nun charged with administering its financial affairs. Bishops have been represented at councils by procurators, asPeter Canisius attended theCouncil of Trent as procurator for theBishop of Augsburg.[2]
CatholicReligious institutes,societies of apostolic life and autonomousparticular Churchessui iuris (especiallyEastern Catholic, each using a non-Latin rite) may have representatives resident in Rome acting on their behalf in business they may have with theHoly See, who are titledProcurators General.[1]
Within the above regularinstitutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, the person charged with matters such as the purchase of provisions, furniture, books and other supplies may be called a procurator.[1]
A party to litigation may generally appoint a procurator instead of responding personally.[3]
The name "fiscal procurator" or "fiscal promoter" was previously used in canon law[4] for the official known since the publication of the1917Code of Canon Law as the promoter of justice, whose function is to safeguard the public welfare in cases brought before ecclesiastical tribunals.[5]
