Holy Father
Bishop of Rome
Holy Father is a title for the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
It addresses or refers to him with reverence: The Holy Father will address the congregation tomorrow.
The term emphasizes his spiritual authority as father of the worldwide Catholic community.
Outside Catholic contexts, Holy Father appears in prayers addressing God.
Supreme Catholic leader
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- vicarClergy substitute for bishop
- successorOne who replaces another
- apostolicOf the first disciples
papal · encyclical · infallibility · pontificate · conclave · election · abdication · resignation
Rome's principal Catholic church
- Sistine ChapelVatican worship hall
- Swiss GuardPapal security force
- Vatican CityIndependent papal microstate
- curiaAdministrative assembly hall
Vatican Museums · Lateran Treaty · balcony · square · Rome · nuncio · diplomat · embassy
Organized religious denomination
- MassCatholic worship service
- sacramentsSacred Christian rites
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- bishopsHigh-ranking clergy members
cardinals · diocese · parish · laity · clergy · synod · canonization · saints
Incapacity for mistakes
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canon lawReligious institutional regulations
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
ecclesiastical · ex cathedra · teaching · pronouncement · decree · bull · encyclical · dogma
pontiff
Supreme Catholic leader
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- vicarClergy substitute for bishop
- successorOne who replaces another
apostolic · papal · encyclical · infallibility · pontificate · conclave · election · abdication · resignation · Benedict
St. Peter's Basilica
Rome's principal Catholic church
- Sistine ChapelVatican worship hall
- Swiss GuardPapal security force
- Vatican CityIndependent papal microstate
curia · Vatican Museums · Lateran Treaty · balcony · square · Rome · nuncio · diplomat · embassy · state
Church
Organized religious denomination
- MassCatholic worship service
- sacramentsSacred Christian rites
- liturgyFormal worship structure
bishops · cardinals · diocese · parish · laity · clergy · synod · canonization · saints · tradition
infallibility
Incapacity for mistakes
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canon lawReligious institutional regulations
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
hierarchy · ecclesiastical · ex cathedra · teaching · pronouncement · decree · bull · encyclical · dogma · catechism
veneration
Profound admiring respect
honor · deference · homage · awe · bowing · genuflection · title · address · faithful · flock
- papal titlespontiff, Vicar of Christ
- Catholic Clergypope, pontiff, cardinal, bishop, monsignor
- church rolesbishop, deacons, priest, pastor, lay readers
- divine titlesLord, Christ, Messiah, Redeemer, Most High
- Popepontiff, papacy, papal, Vatican, Vicar of Christ
- Vatican Lawchurch law, papal bull, papal bulls, Lateran Treaty, concordat
Holy FatherSatan
Judeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
Antichrist · Prince of Darkness · Lucifer · Evil One · Father of Lies
holy, father, fatherly, holiness, fatherhood, fathers, hallowed, fathered