temporal power
[/ˈtɛmpərəl ˈpaʊər/]
nounpl: temporal powers
poder temporal
1. Political or secular authority and control exercised by religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church, over territories and governance matters
During the Middle Ages, the Pope wielded considerable temporal power over the Papal States.
Durante a Idade Média, o Papa exercia considerável poder temporal sobre os Estados Papais.
2. The authority of a religious leader or institution in worldly, non-spiritual affairs
The Church's temporal power diminished significantly after the separation of church and state.
O poder temporal da Igreja diminuiu significativamente após a separação entre Igreja e Estado.
3. Secular dominion or control as opposed to spiritual or ecclesiastical authority
The bishop's temporal power allowed him to collect taxes and maintain an army.
O poder temporal do bispo lhe permitia cobrar impostos e manter um exército.
This term is historically significant in both American and Brazilian contexts, particularly when discussing the role of the Catholic Church in medieval and early modern periods. In Brazil, it appears frequently in historical discussions of Portuguese colonial period and Church influence. The concept remains relevant in contemporary debates about the relationship between religious institutions and government.
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