pope

noun

1
often capitalized : a prelate who as bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church
2
: one that resembles a pope (as in authority)
3
a
: the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria
b
: a priest of an Eastern church

Examples of pope in a Sentence

The cardinals elected a new pope.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Modern popes have traveled extensively after their elections, something truly catholic in the original meaning of the word. Emmett Coyne, The Hill, 23 May 2025 For over a decade, the secular government’s bilateral diplomacy with the pope has been treated as separate from ecumenism efforts between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Holy See. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025 Here are eight passages that capture the new pope’s thinking as a young scholar on leadership, authority and some of the church’s most pressing dilemmas. Ruth Graham, New York Times, 22 May 2025 In his homily to the crowd of some 200,000 gathered for his Mass, the pope set out a vision of leadership based on humility and conciliation rather than on top-down intervention. Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pope

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin papa, from Greek pappas, papas, title of bishops, literally, papa

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pope was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pope. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pope

noun
often capitalized
: the head of the Roman Catholic Church

Biographical Definition

Pope 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Alexander 1688–1744 English poet
Popian adjective
or less commonly Popean

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general

More from Merriam-Webster on pope

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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