Pope

This article is about Popes in general. For the current Pope, see Pope Francis.

The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church in religious contexts, and politically of the Papal States and later Vatican City State.^[1][2] His official title is the Bishop of Rome.^[1] The current Pope is Pope Francis.^[3]

Popes are elected by Cardinals of the Catholic Church. Once they are elected, they hold the position until they die or resign. The Pope can’t be an organ donor.^[4] Usually they do not resign, though; Pope Benedict XVI is the only Pope to resign in the last 500 years. A newly elected Pope chooses a regnal name. Everyone is told this new name when the Habemus Papam is read out. The current pope (Francis) was called Jorge Bergoglio before he became a pope.

The name Pope comes from the Greek word pappas, meaning "father".^[2] Catholic doctrine holds that when making statements ex cathedra, that is official statements teaching about faith and morals, the Pope is infallible - which means God will not allow his followers to be misled by allowing their leader to make a wrong statement. Only two of any Pope's statements have been ex cathedra.^[5]

Popes today travel to many countries around the world preaching. The Pope and the Bishop of Urgell of Andorra are the only Catholic religious figures in the world who both leads the church and government. Like the bishops, archbishops, and cardinals of the Catholic Church, he wears a big hat called a mitre and holds a staff called a crosier. As head of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, the pope is protected by Swiss Guards and Vatican Gendarmerie every time he made public appearances within Vatican and around the world to protect him from assassinations and other events that are against Church and Vatican governments, making him the only Catholic religious figure with security guards for protection.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Thomas J. Reese, Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996), p. 10
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Pope," 'Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2013-4-1.
3. ↑ "List of Popes," 'Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2013-4-1.
4. ↑ Herald, The Catholic (2011-02-05). "Pope cannot be organ donor, Vatican official says". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
5. ↑ Apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus, written by Pope Pius XII, 1 November 1950 "Munificentissimus Deus".; Apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, written by Pope Pius IX, 8 December 1854.