The difference between Pope and Popess

Pope as a noun (Roman Catholicism, _, &, _, generally):

An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state. Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority. Any similar head of a religion. A theocrat, a priest-king, including over the imaginary land of or in figurative and alliterative uses. An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and at other times. Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day.

Pope as a noun (Coptic Church):

An honorary title of the Coptic bishop of Alexandria as father and head of his church.

Pope as a noun (Eastern Orthodoxy):

An honorary title of the Orthodox bishop of Alexandria as father and head of his autocephalous church.

Pope as a noun (Christianity, historical, obsolete):

Any bishop of the early Christian church.

Pope as a noun (Britain):

The ruffe, a small Eurasian freshwater fish (); others of its genus.

Pope as a noun (UK, _, regional, Cumberland, Cornwall, Devon, Scotland):

The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica).

Pope as a noun (US, _, regional):

The painted bunting ().

Pope as a noun (rare):

The ().

Pope as a verb (intransitive, _, or, _, with, _, 'it'):

To act as or like a pope.

Pope as a verb (intransitive, colloquial):

To convert to Roman Catholicism.

Pope as a noun (alcoholic beverages):

Any mulled wine (traditionally including tokay) considered similar and superior to bishop.

Pope as a noun (Russian Orthodoxy):

, a Russian Orthodox priest.

Pope as a noun (US, dialectal, obsolete):

The whippoorwill (Caprimulgus vociferus).

Pope as a noun (US, dialectal, rare):

The nighthawk ().

Popess as a noun:

A female pope.

Popess as a noun (tarot cards):

A high priestess.