papacy: Meaning and Definition of

pa•pa•cy

Pronunciation: (pā'pu-sē), [key]
— pl. -cies.
  1. the office, dignity, or jurisdiction of the pope.
  2. the system of ecclesiastical government in which the pope is recognized as the supreme head.
  3. the period during which a certain pope is in office.
  4. the succession or line of the popes.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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