Where does the word Pope come from?

[IamAdopted]

We hear so much about the Pope. I was wondering where this word came from and what it stands for?

 

[Oblio]

Latin for Papa

 

[IamAdopted]

So pope means papa? How strange to me.

 

[IamAdopted]

so whom came up with this word to place upon the Pope?

 

[Tyndale]

The Bishop of Rome is the bishop of the Holy See and is more commonly referred to as the Pope. The first Bishop of Rome to bear the title of "Pope" was Boniface III in 607, the first to assume the title of "Universal Bishop" by decree of Emperor Phocas.

 

[IamAdopted]

so they are saying that the pope is thier papa? or am I reading into something they are not saying??

 

[RccWarrior]

Early Christian writings tell us that Peter's successors, the bishops of Rome (who from the earliest times have been called by the affectionate title of "pope", which means "papa"), continued to exercise Peter's ministry in the church.

 

[icedtea]

I do not know Latin and I am curious as to what Pontifus Maximus means.
And vatican, if someone can make me smarter..

 

[repentant]

I do not know Latin and I am curious as to what Pontifus Maximus means.
And vatican, if someone can make me smarter..

Pontifex Maximus was the name given to the high priest of the pre Christian Pagan religion of Rome. Now the Pope is called that in some instances..

Vatican City is a city-state within Rome that is the Capitol so to say for the Roman Catholic Church. This is where the Pope is. I have no idea what the words mean..

 

[OntheDL]

I do not know Latin and I am curious as to what Pontifus Maximus means.
And vatican, if someone can make me smarter..

Pontifex Maximus means 'the bridge builder the greatest'. Pontifex Maximus was the title of the pagan high priest who is the bridge/the door way between mortal and immortality.

Vatican means divine serpent.

Here is a picture (attached) of the crest of Vatican.

 

[Tyndale]

It's hard to say where he comes from

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

I do not know Latin and I am curious as to what Pontifus Maximus means.
And vatican, if someone can make me smarter..

As far as Pope goes, it simply means papa.

Here is an excelent article on the Vatican: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Hill

The term pontifex literally means "bridge-builder" (pons + facere); Maximus literally means 'the greatest', i.e. the highest. This was originally the position of bridge-builder and was a supremely important position in Rome, where there were major bridges; only prestigious authorities could be allowed to build the bridges. Here's more informaiton: http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/a104.htm.