Pontificate is the form of government used in the
Vatican City The word come to English from French and do in other words simply means
Papacy or "
To perform the functions of the Pope or other high official in the Church." Since there is only one
Bishop of Rome, or
Pope is
pontificate sometimes also used to describe the era of a Pope. It must not be confused with the
Holy See, which since ancient times equals the
episcopal see of Rome, while the Pontificate in the
Vatican City is
the type of government used there, and is neither a
kingdom nor a
republic.