papacy

Introduction & Top Questions
Overview of the papacy
The early papacy: from St. Peter to 590 ce
The medieval papacy: from 590 to 1303
The Renaissance and Reformation papacy: from 1303 to 1565
The early modern papacy: from 1566 to 1774
The modern papacy: from 1775 to the 21st century
List of popes and antipopes

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Where do the cardinal electors come from?

Infographic featuring a central illustration of a pope, surrounded by labeled facts such as the total number of popes, most common papal names, oldest and youngest elected, longest and shortest reigns, number of popes made saints, official titles, and origins by country.

A pyramid diagram illustrating the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, with levels from top to bottom: Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Laypeople and Consecrated Religious, each with a brief description of their roles.

Expulsion of Pope Gregory VII and excommunication of King Henry IV

Innocent III: one of the youngest popes to ascend the throne

At a Glance

papacy summary

Quizzes

Holy week. Easter. Valladolid. Procession of Nazarenos carry a cross during the Semana Santa (Holy week before Easter) in Valladolid, Spain. Good Friday

Christianity Quiz

Saint Gregory I or Gregory the Great (c. 540-604), pope from 590 to 604. Undated copperplate engraving by Adrian Collaert (c.1520-67).

Popes and Antipopes

Related Questions

How did Matthew 16:18 become important to claims of papal authority?
How did Pope Gregory I help shape medieval Roman Catholicism?
How did Pope Innocent III expand papal power in Europe?
How did Pope Leo III's coronation of Charlemagne affect the papacy?
How did Vatican II change Roman Catholic relations with Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Christians?
How did the Dictatus Papae describe Pope Gregory VII's authority?
How did the Second Vatican Council address the relationship between papal primacy and the bishops?
How did the Third Lateran Council change the rules for electing a pope?
How does Roman Catholic tradition connect Saint Peter to the papacy?
Under which conditions can a pope make an infallible statement on faith or morals?
What did Pastor aeternus declare about papal authority?
What do white smoke and black smoke mean during a papal conclave?
What does it mean when a cardinal is appointed in pectore?
What is episcopal collegiality in Roman Catholic teaching?
What was the Investiture Controversy between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV?
Which Bible passages have been used to support papal primacy?
Why did Pope Pius IX call the First Vatican Council?
Why did Rome gain a position of honor among early Christian communities?
Why did the Papal States end in 1870?
Why did the Schism of 1054 deepen the divide between Rome and Constantinople?
Why was Pope Honorius I criticized in discussions of papal infallibility?
Why was papal infallibility debated at the First Vatican Council?
Why were cardinals given the right to elect the pope?
How are popes elected?
What is an encyclical?
What was the first encyclical?
What are some famous encyclicals?
Who was the pope when papal infallibility was defined as dogma?
Where does the pope live?

Philosophy & Religion Religious Beliefs

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External Websites

CSB and SJU Digital Commons - The Adaptation of the Papacy within the Church (PDF)
ABC listen - God Forbid - BONUS: The history of the Papacy
Humanities Libretexts - The Papacy

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

pope - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
papacy - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

papacy

Roman Catholicism

Also known as: bishop of Rome

Written by

Frank J. Coppa

Professor of History, St. Johns University, New York, New York. Author of The Origins of the Italian Wars of Independence. Editor of Encyclopedia of the Vatican and Papacy.

Frank J. Coppa

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

History

papacy, the office and jurisdiction of the pope (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”), who presides over the Holy See (the central government) of the Roman Catholic Church, the largest of the three major branches of Christianity. The term pope was originally applied to all the bishops in the Western church. In 1073, however, Pope Gregory VII restricted its use to the bishop of Rome, confirming a practice that had existed since the 9th century....

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