abbess

Female superior of a nunnery (usually Benedictine) which has canonical status as an abbey.

She is usually elected by the sisters subject to the approval of the bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church an abbess possesses the same dignity and exercises the same functions as an abbot, except those of his priestly order.

According to a decree of the Council of Trent, an abbess at the time of her election should be at least 40 years old, and should have been a professed member of the church for eight years.