pontiff
noun
pon·tiff ˈpän-təf 
1
: pontifex
2
: bishop
specifically, often capitalized : pope sense 1
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web That bolsters the prospects that whoever becomes the next pontiff will share his vision for the future of the church. 
Frances D'emilio, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 With the eight batches of cardinals Francis has named, prospects are boosted that whoever becomes the next pontiff will share his vision for the future of the church. Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 When elected pontiff on Aug. 26, 1978, Luciani, 65, had been serving as patriarch of Venice, one of the church’s more prestigious positions. Fox News, 4 Sep. 2022 On a visit to Canada, the pontiff, 85, used his own vulnerability to demand dignity and respect for older people in a world increasingly populated by them. New York Times, 28 July 2022 The pontiff recently elected to appoint women to the Dicastery of Bishops for the first time in history, including two religious sisters and the head of multiple Catholic women's organizations. Fox News, 21 July 2022 The only shadow that seemed real then was the one cast by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pontiff to retire in nearly 600 years. New York Times, 4 July 2022 The pontiff will also visit the sites of former residential schools in Alberta, Quebec City and Iqaluit, Nunavut, during his trip to Canada, the outlet reported. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 On several occasions, reporting on their encounters, Mr. Scalfari attributed to the pope statements that the Vatican later denied the pontiff had made. Emily Langer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 See More
Frances D'emilio, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 With the eight batches of cardinals Francis has named, prospects are boosted that whoever becomes the next pontiff will share his vision for the future of the church. Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 When elected pontiff on Aug. 26, 1978, Luciani, 65, had been serving as patriarch of Venice, one of the church’s more prestigious positions. Fox News, 4 Sep. 2022 On a visit to Canada, the pontiff, 85, used his own vulnerability to demand dignity and respect for older people in a world increasingly populated by them. New York Times, 28 July 2022 The pontiff recently elected to appoint women to the Dicastery of Bishops for the first time in history, including two religious sisters and the head of multiple Catholic women's organizations. Fox News, 21 July 2022 The only shadow that seemed real then was the one cast by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pontiff to retire in nearly 600 years. New York Times, 4 July 2022 The pontiff will also visit the sites of former residential schools in Alberta, Quebec City and Iqaluit, Nunavut, during his trip to Canada, the outlet reported. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 On several occasions, reporting on their encounters, Mr. Scalfari attributed to the pope statements that the Vatican later denied the pontiff had made. Emily Langer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex
First Known Use
1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2