Holy See

American  

noun

1. Roman Catholic Church. the see of Rome; the office or jurisdiction of the pope.

2. the papal court.

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Holy See British  

noun

1. the see of the pope as bishop of Rome and head of the Church

2. the Roman curia

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Holy See Cultural  

1. In the Roman Catholic Church, the official name for the jurisdiction of the pope (the word see is from the Latin for “seat”).

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Etymology

Origin of Holy See

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Holy See

The Vatican has declared a formal schism with the Society of St. Pius X, excommunicating its bishops and priests in a sweeping crackdown on a traditionalist group that has vexed the Holy See for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

From the Holy See to Silicon Valley, each day brings a fresh wave of discourse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

As a priest, I have advised governments, the United Nations and the Holy See on what it means to build technology responsibly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

The Holy See has recognised the State of Palestine since 2015.

From Barron's ● Nov. 30, 2025

It was, he said, to the Holy See belonged the privilege of judging sovereignly the claims of these competitors of the empire.

From The Power Of The Popes by Pierre Claude Fran?ois Daunou