popeless

/ˈpoʊp.ləs/
adjective
  1. Without a pope; having no pope as leader.
    • During a popeless period, cardinals gather to elect a new leader.
    • The Church was popeless for several months after the previous pope resigned.
    • Some historical periods were popeless due to political conflicts.
What does "popeless" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean