InRoman antiquity, apontiff (from Latin pontifex) was a member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of theRoman religion, theCollege of Pontiffs.[1][2] The termpontiff was later applied to any high or chief priest and, inRoman Catholic ecclesiastical usage, tobishops, especially thepope, who is sometimes referred to as the Roman pontiff or thesupreme pontiff.[3]
The English term derives through OldFrenchpontif[3][4] from Latinpontifex, a word commonly held to come from the Latin root wordspons,pont- (bridge) +facere (to do, to make), and so to have the literal meaning of "bridge-builder", presumably between mankind and the deity/deities. Uncertainty prevailing, this may be only afolk etymology,[1] but it may also recall ancient tasks and magic rites associated with bridges.[5] The term may also be an allusion to Ancient Roman Religious rituals for placating the gods and spirits associated with theTiber River, for instance.[6] Also, Varro cites this position as meaning "able to do".[7]
There were four chiefcolleges of priests in ancient Rome, the most illustrious of which was that of thepontifices.[2] The others were those of theaugures, thequindecimviri sacris faciundis, and theepulones.[5] The same person could be a member of more than one of these groups.[2] Including thepontifex maximus, who was president of the college, there were originally three[5] or five[2]pontifices, but the number increased over the centuries, finally becoming 16 underJulius Caesar.[2][5] By the third century BC the pontiffs had assumed control of the state religious system.[5]
Inspiration for the Catholic use of the namepontiff for a bishop comes from the use of the same word for the Jewish High Priest in the original Latin translation of the Bible, theVulgate, where it appears 59 times. For example atMark 15:11, "pontifices" (plural) is the Latin term used for "The Chief Priests".[8] And in the Vulgate version of theLetter to the Hebrews, "pontifex" (singular) is repeatedly used with reference to the then still extant High Priesthood in Judaism, and analogously suggestingJesus Christ as the ultimate high priest.
The word "pontiff", though now most often used in relation to apope, technically refers to anyCatholic bishop. The phrase "Roman pontiff" is therefore not tautological, but means "Bishop of Rome".[1] In the same way, aPontifical Mass is amass celebrated by a bishop, not necessarily a pope. Note also theRoman Pontifical (the liturgical book containing the prayers and ceremonies for rites used by a bishop)[9] and "pontificals", the insignia of his order that a bishop uses when celebrating Pontifical Mass.[10] While the pontificals primarily belong to bishops, they have also been granted by papal favour or legally established Church custom to certain presbyters (e.g., abbots).[citation needed]
The word has been employed in English also forcaliphs (Islam) andswamis andjagadgurus (Hinduism).[1]