papal states
Proper noun A historical political entity in central Italy, governed by the Pope as a temporal sovereign from the 8th century until 1870. It refers to the territories over which the Pope held direct civil rule, distinct from his spiritual authority over the Catholic Church.
The term is used historically to refer to the specific geographical region and its government under papal control. * The Papal States were a major power in the Italian Peninsula for centuries. * The unification of Italy in 1870 led to the dissolution of the Papal States.
- "The Patrimony of St. Peter" is an earlier and sometimes synonymous term for the lands that formed the core of the Papal States.
- The term is often used in discussions about the historical conflict between temporal (secular) and spiritual power in Europe.
- Papacy (noun): The office or authority of the Pope. While related, this refers to the spiritual office, not the territorial state.
- Pontifical States: A less common, formal synonym for the Papal States.
- The States of the Church
- The Pontifical States (formal)
This term has only one specific historical meaning. It does not have different modern meanings or usages outside of this historical context.
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using "Papal States." It is used strictly as a proper noun for the historical entity.
- the temporal dominions belonging to the pope (especially in central Italy)