Pontificum

Pontificum is a Latin term meaning “of the pontiffs” or “of the pope.” It is the genitive plural form of pontifex, the title used for high priests in ancient Rome, and it is commonly found in the Latin titles of papal documents to signal papal authority. In classical usage, pontificum appears in references to the College of Pontiffs (Collegium Pontificum), the leading body of priests responsible for religious law and rites.

In the modern Catholic Church, Pontificum is frequently encountered in the official titles of papal acts. The best-known example is Summorum Pontificum, a motu proprio issued by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The document addressed the liturgical use of the 1962 Roman Missal, broadening permission for celebrations of the traditional form under certain conditions to be overseen by local bishops. In 2021, Traditionis custodes restricted the use of the older form, but the title Summorum Pontificum remains part of the historical record of papal legislation and its relation to liturgy. The presence of Pontificum in such titles signals the pope’s jurisdiction over church discipline and liturgy.

Etymology and broader use: as a Latin genitive plural, pontificum denotes possession by the pontiffs and appears in scholarly and liturgical contexts to indicate actions or authorities attributed to the popes. Outside Catholic contexts, the term can appear in historical texts referring to the priests and offices of ancient Rome.