What does the P.P. stand for in a Papal signature?

Factual Questions
1

John Paul P.P. II
Benedict P.P. XVI

So what’s the PP stand for? My BF and I were going over and over on this one, and we couldn’t think of anything. Primus Pontifex? Peter and Paul?

I beseach thee, teeming millions! Help ease my distress and reveal the truth!

2

“Papa Pontifex”

3

We all know he’s got the Bling.

4

As I understand it, JPII added P.P. to his papal signature without telling anyone what it stood for. Most folks guess that it stands for “papa”.

Though I could certainly be wrong, I don’t think that it stands for “pontifex”, as that word appears in the more standard abbreviation “PM”, for “Pontifex Maximus”.

5

The PP was definitely part of the papal signature before Wojtyla (Cite: This picture of a document signed by Pius IX., 1846-1878, where the abbreviation appears).

I assume it simply stands for “papa,” the vowels having been omitted.

6

Notice also that in the Pio Nono document, it reads:
“Pius PP. IX.”
and not
“Pius P.P. IX.”
strongly suggesting it’s not an abbreviation of two separate words.

7

I’m not sure if this is the source of the PP. abbreviation, but the pope is sometimes called “Pastor Pastorum” (Latin for “shepherd of shepherds”). I believe this phrase derives from the writings of Augustine, but I haven’t been able to find a citation.

8

That sounds like the likely scenario. Father Carl Pulvermacher answered this question in 1982:[

9

Abbreviation for “Papa”; derived from the Greek for ‘father’

10

I misread the title, thought it was talking about PAYpal signatures - dunno if the Pope has a paypal account
Brian

11

…which means “Greatest Bridgebulder”. I always liked that one. Makes me think of Romans building aqueducts. :slight_smile:

12

A somewhat related thread from a year ago: “The Tudors” and signatures of historical personages, where it turned out “The Tudors” miniseries incorrectly showed Pope Paul III signing a document as “Paul III” (as I pointed out, he really would have signed his name as “Paulus PP III”).

13

I swear to frog this said “Paypal signature.”

14

Prime Pederast

15

Protector of Pedophiles?

16

Pontius Pilate?

17

P.P. as post-nominal letters after the Papal signature means ‘PONTIFEX PRIMUS.’

This translates into English as ‘The first bridge-builder.’

It is one of the many titles the Pope can claim: Some others include…

  1. Bishop of Rome 2) Successor of the Prince of Apostles 3) Vicar of Jesus Christ
  2. Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church 5) Patriarch of the West
  3. Primate of Italy 7) Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province and
  4. Sovereign of the State of Vatican City.

Unofficially, he is often called…

  1. Rector of the World, upon Earth 2) Father of Princes and Kings and
    ‘Pontifex Maximus’ (The great bridge-builder), usually shortened to
    Pont. Max.

If I were Pope, my choice would simply be…‘Holy Father!’ :smiley:

18

Correct.
Which is what the Vatican opted to switch to when “Who’s your daddy ?” was deemed too informal.

Seriously though, it does mean Papa Pontifex, “First among the Bridge Builders” or somesuch.

19

What is apparently the earliest use of ‘PP’ to refer to the pope seems to simply be an abbreviation of ‘papa’, though it could have meant something else. Likely not a Roman-derived title, though, since this is from the Third Century. That doesn’t mean that’s the undisputed origin of its modern usage. Possibly it got re-used and different meanings have been attached over the years.

20

Not quite the word I’d use.

So, is this thread about to be excommunicated and get its fingers chopped off?