A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

POPE

Tue, 20 Aug '24
Major in mass communication?
Sun, 24 Dec '23
Midnight Mass leader
Wed, 19 Apr '23
Leader of the world's smallest nation ("An Essay on Man")
Tue, 20 Dec '22
Title for Paul, Gregory or Francis
Mon, 31 Jan '22
"Is the ___ Catholic?"
Sun, 31 Oct '21
See captain?
Wed, 20 Jan '21
Peter or Paul, but not Mary