toà thánh

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • The Holy See: The jurisdiction, authority, and official establishment of the Pope in Rome; the central governing body of the Roman Catholic Church.
    • Holy See (as a sovereign entity): The entity recognized in international law as the supreme governing body of the Catholic Church, representing the Vatican City State in diplomatic relations.
    • Holy Seat / Sacred Seat: A term used to denote the central headquarters or spiritual authority of a religious leader, particularly within certain Vietnamese religions like Caodaism.

  2. Noun (extended usage):

    • Papal Authority: The power and office of the Pope.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Tòa Thánh Vatican là trung tâm của Giáo hội Công giáo. (The Vatican Holy See is the center of the Catholic Church.)
    • Đại sứ đã trình quốc thư lên Tòa Thánh. (The ambassador presented his credentials to the Holy See.)
    • Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh là thánh địa của đạo Cao Đài. (The Tay Ninh Holy See is the holy land of Caodaism.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Tòa Thánh" vs. "Vatican": While often used interchangeably, "Tòa Thánh" (the Holy See) refers specifically to the spiritual and governmental authority of the Pope, whereas "Vatican" or "Thành Vatican" typically refers to the physical city-state.
    • Tòa Thánh có quan hệ ngoại giao với nhiều quốc gia. (The Holy See has diplomatic relations with many countries.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Tòa Thánh Vatican (n): The Vatican Holy See.
  • Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh (n): The Tay Ninh Holy See, the center of Caodaism.
  • Giáo triều Roma (n): The Roman Curia, the administrative apparatus of the Holy See.
Synonyms
  • The Holy See: The primary English equivalent.
  • The Apostolic See: A formal synonym for the Holy See.
  • The Papacy: The office or authority of the Pope.
Related Terms
  • Vatican: The independent city-state and the physical territory where the Holy See is based.
  • Giáo hoàng (Pope): The bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church, who presides over the Holy See.
  • Cao Đài (Caodaism): A Vietnamese syncretic religion whose headquarters is called the "Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh".