papacy, papacie

[Low Lat. papatia = the papal dignity, from papas, pappas (gen it. pa pat is ); Gr. pappas -papa, father.] 1. The office, dignity, or or position of the pope or bishop of Rome; papal authority, dignity, or juris diction. 2. The popes collectively; the succe ion of pores. 3. The Roman Catholic religion; popery, papistry.