vicarius Christi

Latin

Etymology

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

vicārius Christī m (genitive vicāriī Christī); second declension

(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

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

[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

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