Dictionary

popeable en · ADJ

Etymology

Calque of Italian papabile, equivalent to pope + -able.

Meanings

1. (rare) Thought to be among those likely to be elected pope; papabile; papable.
   • Vatican watchers have already anointed the Honduran prelate papabile or “popeable.” 2001 February 20, May Ying Welsh, “Latin Cardinals hint at Church's future”, in CNN:
   • In 2020, Edward Pentin, the senior Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Register, released a book on the topic, titled "The Next Pope: The Leading Cardinal Candidates." In the book, Pentin listed 19 cardinals he considered to be papabile, or "popeable" frontrunners. 2025 April 21, Sam Clancy, Andrew Weil, “Former St. Louis archbishop Burke among 'popeable' candidates after Francis' death”, in KSDK:

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