habemus papam

/həˈbiːməs ˈpæpæm//həˈbeɪməs ˈpæpæm/

interjection

Used by the Vatican to announce the election of a new Pope.

OriginEcclesiastical Latin habēmus pāpam →
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Meanings

interjection
  1. CatholicismUsed by the Vatican to announce the election of a new Pope.
nounhabemus papam (uncountable)
  1. uncountableCatholicismA short, formulaic speech in Latin that announces the identity of a newly elected pope.

Origin

  1. Ecclesiastical Latinhabēmus pāpam
  2. Englishhabemus papam

Unadapted borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin habēmus pāpam (literally “we have a pope”).

More words from Ecclesiastical Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

habemus papam. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habemus%20papam

MLA

“habemus papam.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habemus%20papam. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “habemus papam,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habemus%20papam.

Source: habemus papam on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.