: of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
also
: resembling a pope or that of a pope
Examples of papal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pope Leo, building on past papal efforts, emphasizes that climate action is a spiritual imperative and responsibility.
—
Joseph Bonasia, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Nearly 300 papal encyclicals have been produced since the first was authored in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The group, which celebrates the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, first broke with Rome in 1988, after its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Set against the frenzy surrounding an impending papal visit, the story follows a suburban Dublin family navigating mounting financial pressures amid a bleak economic recession.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for papal
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Joseph Bonasia, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Nearly 300 papal encyclicals have been produced since the first was authored in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The group, which celebrates the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, first broke with Rome in 1988, after its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Set against the frenzy surrounding an impending papal visit, the story follows a suburban Dublin family navigating mounting financial pressures amid a bleak economic recession.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for papal
Cite this Entry
“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papal. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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