A more thorough explanation:

A pontiff is a member of the council of priests in ancient Rome, also known as pontifex. They were responsible for interpreting both sacred and secular law. Later, the term was used to refer to the leader of the Catholic Church, also known as the Pope.

One example of how the pontiffs interpreted the law is related to the sale of children. The Twelve Tables stated that if a father sells his son three times, the son is to be free from his father's power. However, the tables said nothing about a daughter. The pontiffs held that if a father sold his daughter once, she was free.

Another example is the current pontiff, Pope Francis, who is the leader of the Catholic Church and is responsible for guiding the faith and beliefs of millions of people around the world.

The examples illustrate how the term "pontiff" has been used throughout history to refer to different roles and responsibilities. In ancient Rome, pontiffs were responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring peace among people. In modern times, the term is used to refer to the leader of the Catholic Church, who is responsible for guiding the faith and beliefs of millions of people.