The term Pontiff is used in Ireland exclusively to refer to the Pope. Whilst the Primates are the most senior Roman Catholic prelates in Ireland, the other Bishops in fact report to Rome, not to the Primates.  This is how the Primates and "brother bishops" manage to avoid taking any responsibility for the demeanours of their colleagues several of whom have belated resigned for their failure to act appropriately in cases of child abuse in their diocese.  The situation is further complicated by the fact that Father Brendan Smyth was not a diocesan priest, but rather an ordained member the Norbertine order, a "religious congregation" of priests and thus came under the Authority of his Abbot.

Whilst the RC Church often seems monolithic to outsiders, it is in fact rather a Byzantine structure which facilitates a lack of clear accountability and responsibility for decisions taken.  Indeed, although all Bishops are appointed by Rome, report to Rome, and indeed did report cases of sexual abuse to Rome, Rome enforced a veil of secrecy and yet has taken no responsibility what occurred and to this day refuses to cooperate with civil authorities.

see also No Bishop will go to prison

notes from no w here

Pontiff - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christianity

The word "pontiff", though now most often used in relation to a Pope, technically refers to any bishop. The phrase "Roman Pontiff" is not tautological, but means "Bishop of Rome", as "Alexandrian Pontiff" means Bishop of Alexandria.^[1] In the same way, the adjective "pontifical" does not refer exclusively to the Pope: a Pontifical Mass is a Mass celebrated by a bishop, not necessarily by a pope. From the adjective have been formed the nouns "the Pontifical" (the liturgical book containing the prayers and ceremonies for rites used by a bishop)^[6] and "pontificals" (the insignia of his order that a bishop uses when celebrating Pontifical Mass, not papal insignia, such as the papal tiara).^[7]

I think the RC use of Pontiff is connected with the rise of the Pontiff of Rome to a position of power over the rest of the church. Except of course the parts that did not accept the power grab, primarily the orthodox churches.

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