vicarius Christi

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Latin

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Etymology

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See vicārius (substitute, deputy), Christus (Christ). First attested as a papal epithet in the Roman Synod of 495, but applied literally to bishops, the apostles, and Frankish kings through the Early Middle Ages.[1][2] Restricted to the pope from at least the 13th century.

Noun

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vicārius Christī m (genitive vicāriī Christī); second declension

  1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Vicar of Christ, the pope
    • 1562, Diego Laynez, Disputatio de origine jurisdictionis episcoporum et de Romani pontificis primatu, III.2.3.168:
      [] et quod Spiritus sanctus in conciliis, vel vicarius Christi facit, Christus facere dicitur.
      [] and what the Holy Spirit in the councils or the Vicar of Christ does, is said to be done by Christ.

References

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  1. ^ Landau, Peter (1990) “Kirchenverfassungen”, in Gerhard Müller, editor, Theologische Realenzyklopädie (in German), volume 19, →ISBN, page 116
  2. ^ Kantorowicz, Ernst (2016) The King’s Two Bodies: A Study in Medieval Political Theology, Princeton Classics edition, →ISBN, pages 89–90