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Glite Dictionary
🗣️ To lecture pompously 👑 Pope's office ⛪ To act as Pope
pontificate

pontificate

3 9.9
The period when a person is pope and leads the church
  • noun
  • /ˈpɒntɪfɪkeɪt/
translation icon : pontificado
  • However extreme they may be, over the long pontificate of John Paul II, representatives of such resistance to change seem to have gained notable support.
  • the pontificate of John Paul
  • the pontificate of John
  • the pontificate of Pius

Examples

  • It's noteworthy that none of the Council's documents were issued during his pontificate.

    Blog text (10)

  • For whatever reasons, the influence of the more grassroots voices diminished during the pontificate of John Paul II.

    Academic text (2008)

  • But with the pontificate of John XXIII, the situation changed dramatically.

    Academic text (2013)

  • On April 24, 2005, Ratzinger gave the inaugural homily of his pontificate.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation have been recurring themes of this present pontificate.

    Academic text (2004)

  • During the twelve years of his pontificate (1655-1667), he changed "the map, the appearance, and the image of Rome" (Krautheimer 1982, 1).

    Academic text (2005)

  • Dear Brothers in Christ, at the moment of great uncertainty, in the history of the Holy Church, we must think first of the late Holy Father, whose brilliant pontificate was a gift from God, now we must ask our Lord to send us a new Holy Father, through the pastoral solicitude of the cardinal fathers.

    Conclave (2024)

  • From the beginning of his pontificate, the present Pope has shown a constant concern for the environment.

  • Wednesday, the 19th, will be the first anniversary of his election to the pontificate.

  • His was arguably the most influential pontificate of the 20th century.

Synonyms

papacy
vspontificate
13 8.4

The job and power of the Pope as leader of the Roman Catholic Church

is the same office of government rather than a different institution
the Holy See
vspontificate
  • Formal
10 7.8

The Pope's government that speaks for the Roman Catholic Church and acts like a small country

emphasizes office or government without implying sovereign status
pontification
vspontificate
9.9

The time when a pope or bishop leads the church

refers to the office or government itself rather than the time in it

Surface Forms

pontificate singular
pontificates plural

Etymology

Pontificate as a noun comes from Latin pontifex ('bridge-maker', from pons 'bridge' and facere 'to make') and named the office of the pope. So a pontificate is the government or the time when a pope leads.