Archpontiff

/ˈɑːrtʃˌpɑːntɪf/ noun

Definition

The chief or supreme pontiff; specifically, the Pope or the highest religious authority in a faith.

Etymology

Arch- plus pontiff (from Latin pontifex, a priest or bridge-builder). This term emerged in religious texts, though 'pontiff' itself alone became the standard term for the Pope.

Kelly Says

Early Christian writers sometimes used 'archpontiff' as an even grander title for the Pope than 'pontiff' alone—it emphasized his supreme religious authority over all other clergy.

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