Crossword Genius

Religious leaders' afterword filled with hope for cockneys (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

popes

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'religious leaders'' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for popes that I've seen before include "Pontiffs" , "Heads of the Roman Catholic church" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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