Papal Vocabulary

As the excitement builds and we await the election of a new pope, let's pause and test our knowledge of the words surrounding this historic event.  Choose the best definition from the options below:

College of Cardinals
A) A flock of red birds in Harvard Yard
B) A Catholic preparatory school in St. Louis, Missouri
C) The body of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church

Holy See
A) A third, invisible eye in the back of a pope's head
B) An exclamation, as in "Holy cow" or "Holy Smoke"
C) The papal court

Papal bull
A) A small, bovine animal native to Papua, New Guinea
B) The intrusive, out-of-touch dictates announced periodically by the Vatican
C) A formal proclamation issued by the pope

Sedia gestatoria
A) An inflammation of the intestines
B) A sedimentary rock
C) A portable throne used to carry popes

Pontiff
A) A large dog that guarded the Ponte Vecchio in medieval Florence
B) A small, cargo-carrying vessel of the Venetian lagoon
C) The pope

Zucchetto
A) An Italian confection
B) A male prostitute
C) A small, round skullcap worn by Roman Catholic clerics

Antipope
A) The devil
B) A typical American Catholic
C) A person established as pope in opposition to the one canonically chosen

Conclave
A) A cylindrical tool used in welding
B) A mathematical concept of set theory
C) The assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope

Papal encyclical
A) An over-sized bicycle
B) A condensed encyclopedia
C) A papal letter addressed to the bishops of the Church

Triregnum
A) The three kings of the Christmas story
B) An ingredient in chewing gum
C) The papal tiara

If you guessed "C" each time, you have a seat awaiting you in the Sistine Chapel.   Congratulations!  Don't forget to wear your zucchetto, and if you're lucky, you might get carried out in a sedia gestatoria.