Papacy (noun)

1. The office, jurisdiction, or authority of the Pope as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. The period during which a particular Pope holds office.

Origin:

From latin papatus, from papa "pope".

Examples:

1. During the Middle Ages, the papacy was a powerful force in Europe.
2. The papacy is the supreme authority of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. The papacy has a long and complex history.
4. The Pope's decision is final and binding on all members of the Roman Catholic Church.
5. The papacy has seen many controversies over the centuries.