Why Popes (Usually) Sign With “PP” After Their Name

If only Franciscus PP had truly been a "Pastor of pastors" instead of a heavy-handed dictator, the Chuch wouldn't be in the fractured mess it is today. Hopefully, Pope Leo XIV will start fixing things!

From Aleteia

By Daniel Esparza

Contrary to what some might guess, “PP” doesn’t stand for “Papa Pontifex” or “Pater Patrum.” It’s not a grand title, nor is it a mystical code.

For centuries, popes have signed official documents with an intriguing abbreviation: “PP.” You’ll find it in everything from papal bulls to modern encyclicals — Franciscus PP., Benedictus XVI PP., Ioannes Paulus II PP.

But what does this set of initials mean?

Contrary to what some might guess, “PP” doesn’t stand for “Papa Pontifex” or “Pater Patrum.” It’s not a grand title, nor is it a mystical code. In fact, its meaning is surprisingly modest: Pastor Pastorum, Latin for “Shepherd of Shepherds.”

This title summarizes the pope’s primary role as the chief pastor of the Church — a bishop who leads other bishops. In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful” (CCC 882).

In other words, his leadership flows not from authority alone, but from his pastoral care.

A signature of service

The abbreviation “PP” first began to appear in papal documents during the early medieval period. It was likely modeled on the way Roman officials signed off with abbreviations of their civil titles. Over time, the popes adopted their own distinctive style, one that emphasized their spiritual identity rather than political status.

The choice of “Pastor Pastorum” subtly reminds both clergy and laity that the pope’s authority is deeply rooted in Christ’s command to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Every bishop is a shepherd of his local flock, but the pope, as successor of St. Peter, has the unique task of guiding them all — not as a ruler above them, but as a servant among them.

Not just a signature, but a statement

In a Church that spans continents and cultures, the papal signature carries weight. It’s not only a personal mark — it’s a visible sign of unity. Whenever Pope Francis signed a document as Franciscus PP., he was speaking not just as the bishop of Rome, but as a pastor in communion with every bishop across the world.

The double “P” also sets the pope’s name apart in the Vatican’s many languages. Whether written in Latin, Italian, or French, the abbreviation remains unchanged, like a quiet echo of a tradition centuries old.

Interestingly, this humble marker has even found its way into art and architecture. In medieval mosaics, frescoes, and seals, “PP” often appears next to a pope’s name — sometimes overlooked, but never accidental.

In a world quick to equate leadership with power, the “PP” reminds us of something radically different: that the Church’s highest office is, at heart, a ministry of love, service, and spiritual fatherhood. So next time you see that brief, unassuming signature, know that behind it lies a deep and enduring truth: the pope is a shepherd among shepherds, called to walk with the flock, not above it.