From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpontiffpon‧tiff /ˈpɒntɪf $ ˈpɑːn-/ noun [countable] formalRRC the Pope
Examples from the Corpus
pontiff• He is the 131st pontiff in a line dating back to the fourth century.• The Romans had an old tradition of chronicling which was kept in the hands of aristocratic pontiffs.• Such an arrangement could only work if the pontiff and his people remained in absolute accord.• At any rate the pontiffs of that region, Etruria, were not exerting strong pressure.Origin pontiff (1500-1600) French pontif, from Latin pontifex “member of the council of priests in ancient Rome”, probably from pons “bridge” + facere “to make” 