Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state.
nounAn honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state., Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority.
Sentence Examples
We have a Pope.
As I read through the letters, I realized that the Pope was the true culprit.
The pope is meeting victims of pedophile priests in London.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____, as head of the Catholic Church, resides in Vatican City.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ delivered his annual Christmas message to thousands of faithful gathered in the square.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pope, popa, from Old English pāpa, from Vulgar Latin papa (title for priests and bishops, esp. and by 8th c. only the bishop of Rome), from early Byzantine Greek παπᾶς (papâs, title for priests and bishops, especially by 3rd c. the bishop of Alexandria), from late Ancient Greek πάπας (pápas, title for priests and bishops, in the sense of spiritual father), from πάππας (páppas, “papa, daddy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A priority for the new pope will be to strengthen the church’s unity amid differing views and expectations within the institution and growing polarisation in the wider world. Some observers believe there is a real risk of schism after 20 years in which there have been popes on either end of the spectrum: the traditional/conservative Benedict XVI, and the liberal/progressive Francis."
— 2025 May 8, Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood, “White smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals election of new pope”, in The Guardian:
"We often say, that every man has a pope in his belly."
— 1689, G. Bulkeley, “People's Right to Election”, in Andros Tracts, published 1869, II. 106:
"Above all, the SED reformers cite the progress inherent in the emancipation of Westem Communist parties from the "red popes in the Kremlin.""
— 1978, Atlas World Press Review, volume 25, page 19:
"Mufti, the Mahometan pope or chief of the religion."
— 1787, Vincent Mignot, translated by A. Hawkins, The history of the Turkish, or Ottoman Empire, section IV:
"This is the only piece in which the author has given a hint of his religion, by ridiculing the ceremony of burning the pope, and by mentioning with some indignation the inscription […]"
— 1830, Alexander Pope, The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, page xxi: