Pope - PP?

[Trevelyan]

Can someone tell me the meaning of ‘PP’? As in “auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum”; how would one write PP in full?

I’ve heard Fr Pacwa on EWTN say that the P is for Pontifex, and it’s two Ps because it’s Pontifex Maximus. But I’ve also heard that it stands for Petrus et Paulus. Any help?

 

[jbuck919]

I hope you get an authoritative answer because I have always wondered myself! It cannot be either of the two possibilities you mention. I always thought it meant “Pontifex et Papa.” (Pontiff and Pope). That sounds weird for several different reasons depending on one’s native language, but I would not be surprised if our putative authoritative responder confirms it.

 

[Marian_Carroll]

Can someone tell me the meaning of ‘PP’? As in “auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum”; how would one write PP in full?

I’ve heard Fr Pacwa on EWTN say that the P is for Pontifex, and it’s two Ps because it’s Pontifex Maximus. But I’ve also heard that it stands for Petrus et Paulus. Any help?

The pope’s signature is usually in the format “NN. PP. x” (e.g., Pope Paul VI signed his name as “Paulus PP. VI”), and his name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation “Pont. Max.” or “P.M.” (abbreviation of the ancient title Pontifex Maximus, literally “Greatest Bridge-maker”, but usually translated “Supreme Pontiff”). The signature of Papal bulls is customarily NN. Episcopus Ecclesia Catholicae (“NN. Bishop of the Catholic Church”), while the heading is NN. Episcopus Servus Servorum Dei (“NN. Bishop and Servant of the Servants of God”), the latter title dating to the time of Pope Gregory I the Great. Other titles used in some official capacity include Summus Pontifex (“Highest Pontiff”), Sanctissimus Pater and Beatissimus Pater (“Most Holy Father” and “Most Blessed Father”), Sanctissimus Dominus Noster (“Our Most Holy Lord”), and, in the Medieval period, Dominus Apostolicus (“Apostolic Lord”).

popetribute.com/content/view/51/31/

 

[Cristiano]

P.P. is probably for Papa (Pope) as coming from Pastor Pastorum (Shepherd of the shepherds)

In Latin “papa” means father and in Greek “pappas” is the same.

 

[Trevelyan]

The pope’s signature is usually in the format “NN. PP. x” (e.g., Pope Paul VI signed his name as “Paulus PP. VI”), and his name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation “Pont. Max.” or “P.M.” (abbreviation of the ancient title Pontifex Maximus, literally “Greatest Bridge-maker”, but usually translated “Supreme Pontiff”). The signature of Papal bulls is customarily NN. Episcopus Ecclesia Catholicae (“NN. Bishop of the Catholic Church”), while the heading is NN. Episcopus Servus Servorum Dei (“NN. Bishop and Servant of the Servants of God”), the latter title dating to the time of Pope Gregory I the Great. Other titles used in some official capacity include Summus Pontifex (“Highest Pontiff”), Sanctissimus Pater and Beatissimus Pater (“Most Holy Father” and “Most Blessed Father”), Sanctissimus Dominus Noster (“Our Most Holy Lord”), and, in the Medieval period, Dominus Apostolicus (“Apostolic Lord”).

popetribute.com/content/view/51/31/

Thanks Marian. But what does PP stand for? this doesn’t say.

P.P. is probably for Papa (Pope) as coming from Pastor Pastorum (Shepherd of the shepherds)

In Latin “papa” means father and in Greek “pappas” is the same.

Thanks, I do think Papa is just from papa/pappas as in father. I don’t think Papa comes from Pastor Pastorum at all, because shepherd of shepherds is contrary to Catholic theology - it was defined (don’t know when) that the Pope is not bishop of bishops.

So is PP just Papa? It seems strange to have the full stops if it is just Papa.

Any other help?

 

[Mattapoisett64]

I researched this some time ago. The source I found (sorry, can’t cite it) said that the “PP” in the papal signature stood for “Pater Patruum” - “Father of Fathers” - supposedly another ancient papal title, and consistent with the root of “pope” being in “papa.” Sorry I don’t recall the source.

 

[Cristiano]

Thanks Marian. But what does PP stand for? this doesn’t say.

Thanks, I do think Papa is just from papa/pappas as in father. I don’t think Papa comes from Pastor Pastorum at all, because shepherd of shepherds is contrary to Catholic theology - it was defined (don’t know when) that the Pope is not bishop of bishops.

So is PP just Papa? It seems strange to have the full stops if it is just Papa.

Any other help?

What you say about the Bishop of Bishops makes sense. I found that explanation on an Italian website and at that time it made sense to me because I was thinking of priests and not Bishops.

I researched this some time ago. The source I found (sorry, can’t cite it) said that the “PP” in the papal signature stood for “Pater Patruum” - “Father of Fathers” - supposedly another ancient papal title, and consistent with the root of “pope” being in “papa.” Sorry I don’t recall the source.

This is more aligned with what my thinking was. But, this is me speculating nothing from official fonts.