: of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
also
: resembling a pope or that of a pope
Examples of papal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The church may not have seen women as equals, but nevertheless, their work was key to the workings and finances of the papal court and its surroundings.
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Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
Logistical aspects such as renting terrace space to get the best camera angles of St. Peters’ Square in the event of a papal funeral — which draws a huge gathering of world leaders, prelates and ordinary Catholics — have long been taken care of, according to several sources.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
It’s considered poor taste to discuss publicly who’s up or down in the papal stakes of a future conclave, much less to start plotting one.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Should Pope Francis step down because of health concerns, a papal conclave would be convened to elect a new pope.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
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Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
Logistical aspects such as renting terrace space to get the best camera angles of St. Peters’ Square in the event of a papal funeral — which draws a huge gathering of world leaders, prelates and ordinary Catholics — have long been taken care of, according to several sources.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
It’s considered poor taste to discuss publicly who’s up or down in the papal stakes of a future conclave, much less to start plotting one.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Should Pope Francis step down because of health concerns, a papal conclave would be convened to elect a new pope.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for papal
Cite this Entry
“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papal. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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