The AI-powered English dictionary
plural pontiffs
(historical, Ancient Rome) A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex.
A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope. quotations examples
In several respects John turned out to be an unexpected figure as supreme pontiff.
2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge, published 2008, page 46
(figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion. examples