pontificalis

Pontificalis is a Latin adjective meaning "of the pope" or "pontifical." In ecclesiastical Latin it is used to indicate that a noun relates to the pope, the papal office, or to papal and episcopal liturgical functions. The form appears in various Latin phrases and titles that describe papal authorities, rites, or institutions.

In liturgical and canon law contexts, pontificalis is the basis for terms describing rites and books associated with bishops and the pope. The best-known example is the Roman Pontifical (Pontifical Romanum in Latin), a liturgical book containing rites performed by bishops, such as ordination, episcopal consecration, and certain sacraments. The Roman Pontifical exists alongside other rite books that guide episcopal ceremonies in the Latin Church.

In English usage, pontificalis largely survives as a Latinate element within phrases or as the source of the English word pontifical. As an adjective, pontifical or pontifical rites typically denotes papal or episcopal authority and ceremonial functions, rather than a standalone term with a fixed set of meanings.

See also: Pontifical, Roman Pontifical, Pontificalia.