English
vicar of Christ
see also: Vicar of Christ
Noun

vicar of Christ

  1. (Christianity) Any bishop.
    • 1964, translating Pope Paul VI's Lumen Gentium, III. xxvii.
      Bishops, as vicars and ambassadors of Christ, govern the particular churches entrusted to them by their counsel, exhortations, example, and even by their authority and sacred power...
  2. Alternative letter-case form of Vicar of Christ#English|Vicar of Christ, a title variously granted to the Holy Ghost and to the bishop of Rome.
Vicar of Christ
Noun

vicar of Christ

  1. (Roman Catholicism) The Pope.
    • "What, sir?" almost roared Parsons, "do you dare to speak evil of the edicts of the Vicar of Christ?"
    • 1989 Dec. 4, Richard N. Ostling & al., "[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959164,00.html Religion: Cross Meets Kremlin—Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II]", Time:
      [I]n the spacious ceremonial library of the 16th century Apostolic Palace, the czar of world atheism, Mikhail Gorbachev, will visit the Vicar of Christ, Pope John Paul II.
    • 2004 Jan. 11, Roberto Pazzi, "Why the Next Pope Needs to Be Italian ↗", New York Times:
      Not since 1522, when a Dutch theologian was elected Pope Adrian VI, had a non-Italian attained the role of Vicar of Christ.
  2. (Christianity, theology, very, rare) The Holy Ghost.
    • 1885, Peter Holmes (translator), Tertullian (author), Prescription against Heretics, ch. xxviii ↗:
      Grant, then, . . . that the Holy Ghost had no such respect to any one (church) as to lead it into truth, although sent with this view by Christ, and for this asked of the Father that He might be the teacher of truth; grant, also, that He, the Steward of God, the Vicar of Christ, neglected His office . . .


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