papal

of the pontiff

Papal means relating to the pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Papal authority is the power vested in the pope to govern church matters.

A papal bull is an official decree issued by the pope, while a papal conclave is the assembly of cardinals that elects a new pope.

The word appears almost exclusively in formal or religious contexts discussing Catholic Church governance and tradition.

ecclesiastical

pontiff

Supreme Catholic leader

  • bishopDiocesan clergy head
  • dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
  • massQuantity of matter

liturgy · doctrine · catechism · sacrament · clergy · altar · rosary · creed · parish · priesthood

Vatican

Holy See

Papal governing authority

conclave · Sistine Chapel · curia · Rome · canonization · audience · tiara · throne · enclave · cardinal

authority

decree

Authoritative legal command

  • edictAuthoritative public command
  • bullSteer before castration
  • encyclicalFormal papal circular letter

infallibility · mandate · dictate · pronouncement · dispensation · interdict · excommunication · indulgence · jurisdiction · dogma

heraldry

tiara

Ornamental feminine headband

insignia · regalia · seal · triple crown · pallium · fisherman's ring · emblem · crest · blazon · escutcheon

Categories
Opposites
religious authority structure

papalcongregational

Of member-governed worship communities

lay · Protestant · Presbyterian · episcopal · patriarchal

religious vs. secular domain

papalsecular

Nonreligious, worldly

civil · temporal · lay · worldly · state

clerical rank

papallay

Place down flat

parochial · diocesan · priestly · diaconal · monastic

Phrases
Family

papal infallibility, papal supremacy, papacy, papist, papal bull, papal bulls

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G