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.
Supreme Catholic leader
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- massQuantity of matter
- liturgyFormal worship structure
doctrine · catechism · sacrament · clergy · altar · rosary · creed · parish
Papal governing authority
- St. Peter'sVatican's principal basilica
- basilicaColonnaded church with apse
- Swiss GuardPapal security force
- conclavePrivate, secretive assembly
Sistine Chapel · curia · Rome · canonization · audience · tiara · throne · enclave
Authoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
- bullSteer before castration
- encyclicalFormal papal circular letter
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
mandate · dictate · pronouncement · dispensation · interdict · excommunication · indulgence · jurisdiction
Ornamental feminine headband
- keysLock-operating instruments
- crossed keysInterlocking papal insignia
- coat of armsHereditary symbolic emblem
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
regalia · seal · triple crown · pallium · fisherman's ring · emblem · crest · blazon
pontiff
Supreme Catholic leader
liturgy · doctrine · catechism · sacrament · clergy · altar · rosary · creed · parish · priesthood
Holy See
Papal governing authority
- St. Peter'sVatican's principal basilica
- basilicaColonnaded church with apse
- Swiss GuardPapal security force
conclave · Sistine Chapel · curia · Rome · canonization · audience · tiara · throne · enclave · cardinal
decree
Authoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
- bullSteer before castration
- encyclicalFormal papal circular letter
infallibility · mandate · dictate · pronouncement · dispensation · interdict · excommunication · indulgence · jurisdiction · dogma
tiara
Ornamental feminine headband
- keysLock-operating instruments
- crossed keysInterlocking papal insignia
- coat of armsHereditary symbolic emblem
insignia · regalia · seal · triple crown · pallium · fisherman's ring · emblem · crest · blazon · escutcheon
- Medieval Religionmonasticism, popes, Catholic, Catholicism, abbeys
- Catholic ChurchVatican, cardinals, popes, parishes, Holy See
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, Holy Communion, popes, Roman Catholicism
- -al adjectivescultural, emotional, environmental, federal, financial
- Catholic historyVatican, dioceses, Catholic Church, cardinals, parishes
- Italian CatholicismVatican, Vatican City, Holy See, College of Cardinals, Swiss Guard
papalcongregational
Of member-governed worship communities
lay · Protestant · Presbyterian · episcopal · patriarchal
- papal visitPope's formal travel abroad
- papal audienceOfficial meeting with pope
- papal supremacyPope's highest ecclesiastical authority
- papal conclaveCardinal election of pontiff
- papal infallibilityPontiff's error-free teaching authority
- papal electionChoosing a new pope
papal infallibility, papal supremacy, papacy, papist, papal bull, papal bulls