Holy See

noun

: the see of the pope

Examples of Holy See in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pope Francis has canceled a trip to a climate conference in Dubai on doctor's orders, according to the Holy See Press Office. Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2023 Burke has remained largely silent on his demotions and has refused to entertain characterizations of hostility toward the Holy See. Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2023 The stunt was catalyzed by a fan campaign and charity drive benefiting the Holy See’s World Day of the Poor on Nov. 19. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023 That day, the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital — a hospital in Rome under the jurisdiction of the Holy See — offered to treat Indi with funding from Italy’s government. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 The Holy See’s 2018 provisional agreement with Beijing is failing, but the problems with the Vatican’s China policy did not begin five years ago. Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023 While Catholicism is tolerated and legal, foreign missionaries working here lament that the government restricts their numbers and treats the church as a non-governmental organization, limitations that the Holy See is hoping will be lifted with a comprehensive bilateral agreement. Nicole Winfield, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023 Aside from the historic first, Francis’ trip holds great geopolitical import: With Mongolia sandwiched between China and Russia, Francis will be traveling to a region that has long been one of the thorniest for the Holy See to negotiate. The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023 Still, Kyiv has welcomed the Holy See’s behind-the-scenes assistance in prisoner exchanges and its ongoing attempts to repatriate Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia. Mikhail Klimentov, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Holy See.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Holy See was in 1765

Dictionary Entries Near Holy See

Cite this Entry

“Holy See.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Holy%20See. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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