Crossword Genius

Father a friend of the Pope (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

papal

'of the pope' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'father a friend' is the wordplay.
'father' becomes 'pa' (pa can mean dad or father).
'a friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'pa'+'pal'='PAPAL'

(Other definitions for papal that I've seen before include "of Catholic high-up" , "Relating to the Pontiff" , "Like some bulls" , "Of the highest Vatican authority" , "Of the RC leader" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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