The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word LEONINE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
E
O
N
I
N
E
More clues leading to the result LEONINE
- Catty Pope?
- Note about one oddly like a big cat
- Catty cardinal supporting Pope
- Policy to retain age of certain popes
- As some popes are showing the nature of pride?
- One roaming in path like a big cat
- Out of pride, perhaps, one resolved to stop row
- Catty Pope who got canonised
- Catty, being a very long time in queue
- Papal order initially in red reaching troublesome conclusion
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "As some popes/showing the nature of pride" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case as some popes/showing the nature of pride = leonine.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LEONINE mean?
LEONINE noun- A 13th-century coin minted in Europe and used in England as a debased form of the sterling silver penny, outlawed under Edward I.
- Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a lion.
- A kind of Latin verse, generally alternate hexameter and pentameter, rhyming at the middle and end.