POPE

POPE. The word “papa,” “pappas,” “pope” means simply “father.” It seems to have been used for Christian bishops as early as the 3rd c. The latter two, “pappas” and “pope,” are common terms of address for Greek and Russian parish priests respectively. The title, “pope,” is used still for both the Greek and Coptic Patriarchs of Alexandria (qq.v.), and belongs, of course, to the pope of Rome (q.v.). In the latter’s case, and throughout the Western Church, the title has been exclusive of all other bishops since at least the beginning of the Gregorian Reforms.