| This term is employed in an ecclesiastical and in an historical signification. In the |
| former of these uses it denotes the ecclesiastical system in which the pope as |
| successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Jesus Christ governs the Catholic Church as |
| its supreme head. In the latter, it signifies the papal influence viewed as a |
| political force in history. |
| See: |
| APOSTOLIC SEE; |
| APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION; |
| CHURCH; |
| PAPAL ARBITRATION; |
| POPE; |
| UNITY. |
| G. H. JOYCE |
| Transcribed by Marcia L. Bellafiore |
| The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI |
| Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company |
| Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight |
| Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor |
| Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York |
| The Catholic Encyclopedia: NewAdvent.com |