: 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
On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.
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Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The trip includes a rare papal address to Spanish parliament and meetings with government leaders and King Felipe VI, emphasizing Vatican engagement with European governance and democracy.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The papal conclave performed a fairly remarkable feat.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Guests brought to life looks that referenced papal garments and displayed biblical artifacts like crosses, angel wings and halos.
—Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for papal
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Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The trip includes a rare papal address to Spanish parliament and meetings with government leaders and King Felipe VI, emphasizing Vatican engagement with European governance and democracy.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The papal conclave performed a fairly remarkable feat.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Guests brought to life looks that referenced papal garments and displayed biblical artifacts like crosses, angel wings and halos.
—Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 4 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 8 May. 2026.
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