papacy

noun

pa·​pa·​cy ˈpā-pə-sē 

plural papacies

1

: the office of pope

2

: a succession or line of popes

3

: the term of a pope's reign

4

Papacy : the system of government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the pope is the supreme head

Examples of papacy in a Sentence

He was selected by the cardinals for the papacy.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the last few months, with Pope Leo XIV 's papacy, Báez has started delivering again powerful and blunt sermons at Miami Masses. —CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025

Francis also went to Turkey and the Holy Land early in his papacy. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025

Before his papacy, Leo served in Peru for decades, assisting the poor, especially Venezuelan migrants who fled there. —Connor Greene, Time, 15 Oct. 2025

In the first official document of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV placed the poor at the heart of the Catholic Church's teaching, calling bishops around the world to take on the mantle of social justice in defense of the most vulnerable in society, including migrants. —Claire Giangrave, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English papacie, from Medieval Latin papatia, from Late Latin papa pope — more at pope

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing papacy

• the papacy

Kids Definition

papacy

noun

pa·​pa·​cy ˈpā-pə-sē 

plural papacies

1

: the office of pope

2

: the term of a pope's reign

3

capitalized : the government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the pope is the head