ultramontanism

American  

[uhl-truh-mon-tn-iz-uhm] / ˌʌl trəˈmɒn tnˌɪz əm /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. the policy of the party in the Roman Catholic Church that favors increasing and enhancing the power and authority of the pope.

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ultramontanism British  

/ ˌʌltrəˈmɒntɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. RC Church the doctrine of central papal supremacy Compare Gallicanism

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Other Word Forms

• ultramontanist noun

Etymology

Origin of ultramontanism

1820–30; < French ultramontanisme, equivalent to ultramontain ultramontane + -isme -ism

Example Sentences

He feared the advent of socialism, unsurprisingly, but also the rise of “ultramontanism,” a semi-polite term for Roman Catholic theocracy.

From Salon

In Catholicism, “ultramontanism” is a worldview in which the pope is accorded exaggerated authority.

From The Wall Street Journal

In consequence of this victory of the clerical party Catholic Switzerland with Lucerne at its head became a main centre of ultramontanism and Jesuitism.

From Project Gutenberg

The organ of ultramontanism in H---- printed an article headed, "Contributions to the Traits of Character of a New Candidate."

From Project Gutenberg

In country villages, the position here assumed by the magnates of progress is filled by the lords of ultramontanism, clerical gentlemen in cassocks, who keep a sharp eye on the fingers of their parishioners.

From Project Gutenberg