Pope

Pope, in Latin, papa, from the Greek pappas, meaning “father”, a Christian ecclesiastical title expressing affection and respect and, since the 8th century, recognized in the West as belonging exclusively to the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church and incumbent of the Papacy. During the 4th and 5th centuries bishops were sometimes called pope. The title is still accorded the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria. Priests of the Orthodox Churches may also be called pappa, reflecting the sense of the original Greek word.

Besides the designation pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also holds these titles: vicar of Christ; successor of St Peter; supreme pontiff of the universal Church; patriarch of the West; primate of Italy; archbishop and metropolitan of the Roman province; sovereign of the State of Vatican City; and servant of the servants of God.