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

  1. (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
  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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