ultramontanism means A Roman Catholic philosophy that emphasises the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 86 out of 100.
Why “ultramontanism” is a great word
ULTRAMONTANISM — [Noun] A Roman Catholic doctrine advocating the supreme, centralized authority of the Pope in all matters, both spiritual and temporal. From French ultramontanisme, from ultramontain (“beyond the mountains, i.e., the Alps”) + -isme (“-ism”). Unlike Gallicanism, which championed national church autonomy, or conciliarism, which vested authority in a council of bishops, ultramontanism insists all legitimate power radiates from a single, infallible center. It is the crisp decree from Rome arriving by courier, the meticulous indexing of all doctrine into a unified code, and the profound comfort of a single voice ending all debate—a faith where certainty flows in an unbroken stream from a voice beyond the mountains.
Etymology
From ultramontane + -ism, after French ultramontanisme.
noun
- A Roman Catholic philosophy that emphasises the prerogatives and powers of the Pope.“Ultramontanism is often seen as a conservative force in the Church, but after 1815 it represented innovation and the prospect of Church reconstruction and revival, albeit of a particular type.”