pontifical
Loftily laying down law
Pontifical relates to a pope or bishop, or to the ceremonies and vestments associated with high church office: pontifical robes, pontifical mass.
The word extends to anything resembling the manner of a pontiff—solemn, authoritative, or self-importantly dogmatic.
Someone who speaks pontifically delivers pronouncements as if from on high, brooking no disagreement.
Catholic Church's supreme leader
- VaticanPapal city-state
- papacyPope's office and authority
- Holy SeePapal governing authority
- apostolicOf the first disciples
encyclical · curia · nuncio · conclave · diocese · cardinalate · canon law · synod
Ceremonial religious attire
- mitrePointed clerical headwear
- crosierEpiscopal ceremonial staff
- chasubleLiturgical overgarment for clergy
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
procession · altar · liturgy · stole · benediction · sacristy · acolyte · sanctuary
Rigidly attached to doctrine
- opinionatedFirmly attached to beliefs
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- rigidUnable to bend
uncompromising · authoritarian · intolerant · preachy · pronouncing · decreeing · ex cathedra · unbending
Exaggerating one's own significance
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
grandiose · bombastic · highfalutin · imperious · arrogant · haughty · patronizing · preachy
Pope
Catholic Church's supreme leader
apostolic · encyclical · curia · nuncio · conclave · diocese · cardinalate · canon law · synod · beatification
vestments
Ceremonial religious attire
- mitrePointed clerical headwear
- crosierEpiscopal ceremonial staff
- chasubleLiturgical overgarment for clergy
incense · procession · altar · liturgy · stole · benediction · sacristy · acolyte · sanctuary · votive
doctrinaire
Rigidly attached to doctrine
- opinionatedFirmly attached to beliefs
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
rigid · uncompromising · authoritarian · intolerant · preachy · pronouncing · decreeing · ex cathedra · unbending · absolutist
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
supercilious · grandiose · bombastic · highfalutin · imperious · arrogant · haughty · patronizing · preachy · lecturing
- papacyPope, pope, Holy See, Vatican, conclave
- prayer booksprayer book, breviary, Book of Common Prayer, prayerbook, breviaries
- worship booksprayer books, hymnal, hymnals, missal, missals
- Catholic textsmissal, missals, catechism, catechisms, breviaries
- church booksBible, missal, hymnal, missals, prayer book
- Church Textsmissal, breviary, psalter, lectionary, gradual
pontificalhumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · unassuming · unpretentious · tentative · self-effacing
pontificallay
Place down flat
secular · parochial · diocesan · congregational · pastoral
pontificalopen-minded
Receptive to different ideas
undogmatic · receptive · broadminded · latitudinarian · humble
pontificate, pontificator, pontificates, pontificating, pontificated, pontificators, pontification, pontifications