1. plural of pope; the heads of the Roman Catholic Church

Examples

• Several popes have visited the United States in recent decades.
• The history of the popes spans over two thousand years.
• Medieval popes wielded significant political power in Europe.
• The Vatican displays portraits of all the popes throughout history.
• Some popes have been canonized as saints after their deaths.
• The election of new popes takes place in the Sistine Chapel.