Meaning
pontiff, pope
- pontiff
In a sentence
Il pontefice arriva domani in città per un evento.
The pontiff arrives in town tomorrow for an event.
Hai visto il pontefice ieri in televisione?
Did you see the pontiff on television yesterday?
Non conosco bene la storia di questo pontefice.
I don't know this pontiff's history very well.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pontefice | masculine · singular |
| pontefici | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Mostly formal and literary. In everyday speech, Italians usually say papa for the Pope.
- Can refer to the Pope specifically or, more broadly, to a high religious leader in formal contexts.
- Often appears in titles and news style: il Sommo Pontefice, il pontefice romano.