pontiff
Vatican's supreme leader
A pontiff is a pope—the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The term derives from Latin for "bridge-builder," originally referring to high priests in ancient Rome.
While technically applicable to any bishop, pontiff now almost exclusively means the pope: The pontiff addressed the crowd from St. Peter's Square.
Pontifical means relating to the pope or his office.
Catholic Church's supreme leader
- papalof the pontiff
- tiaraOrnamental feminine headband
- crosierEpiscopal ceremonial staff
- mitrePointed clerical headwear
conclave · infallibility · apostolic · succession · encyclical · canonization · curia · nuncio
Legal authority's scope
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- edictAuthoritative public command
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
excommunication · bull · encyclical · mandate · synod · interdict · dispensation · anathema
Quantity of matter
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
- altarSacred ritual table
chalice · procession · benediction · sacrament · communion · vespers · matins · lauds
Trust without proof
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
- sacrednessQuality of being holy
- pietySincere religious devotion
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
theology · doctrine · sanctity · salvation · redemption · worship · prayer · sermon
Colonnaded church with apse
- frescoesPaintings on fresh plaster
- pietaDepiction of mourning mother
- archivesStored historical documents
- grottoesSmall natural or artificial caverns
necropolis · obelisk · loggia · baldachin · dome · colonnade
Of foremost importance
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- prelateSenior church official
- monsignorPapal honorific for priests
deacon · curia · nuncio · legate · prefect · congregation · episcopal · metropolitan
pope
Catholic Church's supreme leader
mitre · conclave · infallibility · apostolic · succession · encyclical · canonization · curia · nuncio · bull
jurisdiction
Legal authority's scope
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- edictAuthoritative public command
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
infallibility · excommunication · bull · encyclical · mandate · synod · interdict · dispensation · anathema · imprimatur
mass
Quantity of matter
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
altar · chalice · procession · benediction · sacrament · communion · vespers · matins · lauds · paten
faith
Trust without proof
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
- sacrednessQuality of being holy
- pietySincere religious devotion
devotion · theology · doctrine · sanctity · salvation · redemption · worship · prayer · sermon · shepherd
basilica
Colonnaded church with apse
- frescoesPaintings on fresh plaster
- pietaDepiction of mourning mother
- archivesStored historical documents
grottoes · necropolis · obelisk · loggia · baldachin · dome · colonnade
cardinal
Of foremost importance
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- prelateSenior church official
monsignor · deacon · curia · nuncio · legate · prefect · congregation · episcopal · metropolitan · primate
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- papacyPope, pope, Holy See, papal election, papal authority
- Catholic Clergypope, cardinal, bishop, monsignor, archbishop
- Catholic hierarchypapacy, Holy See, Vatican, College of Cardinals, episcopate
- Catholic historypapacy, Vatican, Pope, dioceses, Catholic Church
pontifflayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
parish priest · deacon · altar boy · parishioner · congregant
pontifflayman
Ordinary untrained person
layperson · laywoman · parishioner · congregant · secular
pontiffking
Male crowned ruler
emperor · president · prime minister · dictator · head of state
pontificate, pontifical, pontiffs, pontificates, pontificating, pontificated