Legal Definitions - provisor

A provisor is a term primarily used in ecclesiastical law to describe an individual who has been nominated by the Pope to take possession of a specific church office or position, often one that includes an endowment or regular income (known as a benefice). This nomination occurs either when the position is currently vacant or when it is anticipated to become vacant in the near future.

Historically, the term also had a broader, more general meaning, referring to someone who provided care, supplies, or sustenance.

• Imagine a situation where a long-serving parish priest in a small Italian village is nearing mandatory retirement age. To ensure a smooth transition and continuity of pastoral care, the Pope might designate a particular priest as a provisor for that parish. This means the designated priest is officially named to assume the office and its associated responsibilities and resources once the current priest steps down.

  This example illustrates a provisor being appointed to a benefice (the parish and its associated income) that is "about to become vacant," ensuring a planned succession.

• Consider a scenario where a specific canonry position at a historic cathedral, which is an endowed office with particular duties and a stipend, suddenly becomes empty due to the incumbent's unexpected passing. The Pope could then appoint a new priest as a provisor to fill this vacant canonry, granting them the authority and resources associated with the role.

  Here, the individual is named a provisor for a benefice (the canonry) that is already "vacant," allowing for the prompt filling of the position.