Vicar of Christ

American  

[vik-er uhv krahyst] / ˈvɪk ər əv ˈkraɪst /

Also Vicar of Jesus Christ

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. the pope, with reference to his claim to stand in the place of Jesus Christ and possess His authority in the church.

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Vicar of Christ British  

noun

1. RC Church the Pope when regarded as Christ's earthly representative

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Etymology

Origin of Vicar of Christ

First recorded in 1475–85

Example Sentences

Gelasius I is widely recognised as the first pope to officially be called the "Vicar of Christ", a term that signifies the Pope's role as Christ's representative on Earth.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025

“He’s making sure that they engage with him, not treat him like a sacred relic. He’s the Vicar of Christ, not a Roman emperor,” tweeted the papal biographer, Austen Ivereigh.

From The Guardian • Mar. 29, 2019

Papal biographer Austen Ivereigh, a supporter of Francis, countered by Tweeting: “He’s making sure that they engage with him, not treat him like a sacred relic. He’s the Vicar of Christ, not a Roman emperor.”

From Reuters • Mar. 26, 2019

In 1965, when Pope Paul VI became the first Vicar of Christ to visit New York, the police used gray wooden sawhorses to line the papal route through the city’s streets.

From New York Times • Sep. 25, 2015

Roderigo Borgia, Vicar of Christ, hell yawns for you; but a few moments, Borgia, but a few moments of life; think you, that you suffer now?

From The Honour of Savelli A Romance by Levett-Yeats, S. (Sidney)