The history of the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, based in the Vatican City, and head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Pope
Last updated 2011-07-19
The Pope
Jesus and Peter ©
The pope is the Bishop of Rome, based in the Vatican City, and head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope comes from the Latin for 'father' (the traditional title for a bishop). The adjective for something relating to the Pope is papal.
Catholics believe that the pope is the successor to Saint Peter whom Jesus appointed as the first head of his church.
Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church and I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 16
Each pope is part of what Catholicism calls the apostolic succession, an unbroken line back to Peter and has supreme authority. The current pontiff Benedict XVI is the 265th pope and succeeded John Paul II in 2005.
Popes can speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals but in practice do so rarely.
Second in the hierarchy after the Pope are the Cardinals, who elect the next pope on the death of the current incumbent.
Will there be a British Pope soon?
It's a pretty safe bet that there won't be. The last Briton - indeed the only Briton ever - to become pope was Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear who became Pope Adrian IV in 1154.
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