papal supremacy
Pope's ultimate power
Papal supremacy is the doctrine that the Pope holds supreme authority over the Christian church.
The concept was central to medieval Catholicism and remains foundational to Roman Catholic ecclesiology, asserting that the Bishop of Rome has jurisdiction over all other bishops and believers.
The Protestant Reformation rejected papal supremacy, and it remains a key distinction between Catholic and Orthodox or Protestant Christianity.
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- Western SchismPeriod of competing popes
- churchPlace of Christian worship
- ex cathedraWith binding doctrinal authority
- pontificateSpeak in dogmatic manner
doctrine · authority · primacy · interdict · canon law · Holy See · excommunication · Peter · hierarchy · throne · Rome · tiara · schism · conclave · Saint Peter · keys to the kingdom · Vatican · bishop
- papacypontiff, Pope, pope, Holy See, Vatican
- church authoritybishops, popes, deacons, presbyters, curia
- Sacred Authoritydivine right, theocracy, divine mandate, Holy See, apostolic
- Gregorian ReformInvestiture Controversy, simony, College of Cardinals
- papal authorityex cathedra, Holy See, infallibility, Vicar of Christ, Vatican
- medieval governancefeudal hierarchy, vassalage, lordship, commons, royal authority
papal supremacyseparation of church and state
Constitutional religious neutrality principle
secular authority · state church · divine right of kings · anticlericalism