Custos (English: guardian) means a religious superior or an official in the Franciscan Order.
It is in this latter sense that he refers[2] to the custodes as having power, conjointly with the Provincials, to elect and to depose the Minister General.
The Custodes Provincial, on the contrary, have no voice in the General Chapters, and their rights and duties are much restricted and unimportant.
Besides having a voice in all capitular acts of his province he takes part in the General Chapter, should his Minister Provincial be impeded.
The Custodian of the Holy Land is an appointed office in the Franciscan Order, which is approved by the Vatican.