camerlengo
2
9.9
A senior Catholic Church official who looks after the pope's money and property between popes
- noun
- /ˌkæmərˈleɪŋɡoʊ/
- Formal
:
camerlengo
Surface Forms
camerlengo singular
camerlengos plural
Etymology
Camerlengo comes from the same root camera 'chamber', and in the Church the title became the official who kept the pope's household and money, similar to a religious chamberlain. So a camerlengo is the high church officer who manages the pope's property and finances, especially between popes.