pa·pa·cy 
(pāpə-sē)
(pāpə-sē)n. pl. pa·pa·cies
1. The office and jurisdiction of a pope.
2. The period of time during which a pope is in office.
3. A succession or line of popes: the Medici papacy.
4. Papacy Roman Catholic Church The system of church government headed by the pope.
[Middle English papacie, from Medieval Latin pāpātia, from Late Latin pāpa, pope; see POPE.]