Sarah Mitchell
The Pope, as the bishop of Rome, is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was head of the Apostles of Jesus. The Pope is considered infallible and has supreme power of jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. The Pope is chosen from among the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and while it is not necessary for him to have been a cardinal elector or even a cardinal, he must be a male baptized Catholic who can be ordained a bishop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Pope |
| Who can be elected | Any male baptized Catholic |
| Who has been elected | All popes have been male |
| Pope's role | Bishop of Rome, leader of the Roman Catholic Church |
| Pope's residence | Vatican City |
| Pope's authority | Full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government |
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What You'll Learn
Pope eligibility requirements
The pope is the bishop of Rome and, as such, only someone who can be ordained a bishop is eligible to become pope. This means that any male Catholic can be elected pope, provided they are baptised and willing to be ordained. The pope does not need to be a cardinal elector or even a cardinal.
While it is expected that the pope will be elected from among the College of Cardinals, history shows that other figures have also ascended to the papacy, including laymen. In recent centuries, however, the vast majority of popes have been cardinals. The last pope elected when not yet a bishop was Gregory XVI in 1831, the last elected when not a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378, and the last elected when not even a priest was Leo X in 1513.
Married men have been elected as popes in the past, but they were required to cease living as married men after election, practicing perpetual continence.
Canon 332 § 1 of the 1983 Code simply states that one already a bishop who accepts legitimate papal election becomes pope immediately. One who is not yet a bishop can accept election but must be immediately consecrated bishop. By implication, that would seem to require that a papabile:
- Be male
- Be willing to be baptised
- Be ordained deacon, priest, and bishop
- Have the use of reason in order to accept election and, if necessary, holy orders
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The pope's religion
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was the head of the Apostles of Jesus. The Pope is the bishop of Rome, and has supreme power of jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. The Pope is considered one of the world's most powerful people due to the extensive diplomatic, cultural, and spiritual influence of his position on Catholics and those outside the Catholic faith.
The Pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and any male baptized Catholic is eligible to be elected. The Pope does not need to be a cardinal elector or even a cardinal; however, if someone who is not a bishop is elected, he must be ordained as a bishop before the election is announced to the people. The last pope to be elected when not yet a bishop was Gregory XVI in 1831, the last pope elected who was not a priest was Leo X in 1513, and the last pope elected who was not a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378.
The Pope makes decisions on issues of faith and morality for Catholics worldwide, a population of about 1.3 billion. The Pope's infallibility, or inability to err in matters of faith and morals, is a doctrine that has been implicit in the early Church and has been more clearly understood over time. The doctrine of infallibility is based on the place of St. Peter in the New Testament and the place of the Roman Church in history.
The Pope's role has evolved over time, with the 20th century seeing a shift in emphasis on papal prerogatives while maintaining the view that the authority of the bishops and the Pope are linked. The Pope's influence extends beyond the Catholic faith, and he heads the world's largest non-government provider of education and healthcare, with a vast network of charities.
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The pope's role
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church. He is also the head of the sovereign city-state, Vatican City. The pope is considered one of the world's most powerful people due to his extensive diplomatic, cultural, and spiritual influence on both Catholics and non-Catholics.
The pope is the Supreme Pastor, representing Christ's love and concern for every individual. He is also the Prime Witness to Faith, responsible for preaching and teaching Christ's message. The pope is the Unifier of the People of God, guiding and inspiring the Central Synod of Bishops to balance the needs of the worldwide Church with the autonomy of local Churches.
While the pope's role has become less directly involved in politics in recent decades, he retains significant political influence. He meets with heads of state and maintains diplomatic relations with numerous nations. The pope also conducts liturgies and appoints new bishops.
The pope is chosen from among the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and any male baptized Catholic is eligible to be elected. The pope must be ordained as a bishop, and if the elected candidate is not already a bishop, he must be consecrated before the election is announced.
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Pope selection process
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church. The pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals, who are themselves bishops and Vatican officials. The process of electing a new pope is known as a conclave.
In ancient times, the pope was chosen by senior clergymen resident in and near Rome. In 1059, Pope Nicholas II decreed that only cardinals could elect a new pope, and that the candidate must receive the assent of the clergy and laity. In 1139, the requirement for the assent of the lower clergy and laity was removed, and in 1179, the entire College of Cardinals was given equal rights in the election.
Today, only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in the conclave, and there are over 120 of them. The process of electing a new pope begins between 15 and 20 days after the death of the previous pope, following the Vatican's nine days of mourning. The camerlengo, a cardinal in the Catholic Church, is in charge of organizing the election. Cardinals attend daily meetings before the election, and the conclave itself is an act of supreme secrecy. Cardinals are not permitted to communicate with anyone outside of the conclave, and they take an oath of discretion before the election begins.
The cardinals hold a mass to ask for spiritual guidance before the election takes place. Each cardinal then votes via a secret ballot, and the candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected. If a candidate receives the necessary votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts the election. If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before appearing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The senior cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"), and the new pope imparts his blessing on the city of Rome and the world.
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Pope history
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and is considered one of the world's most powerful people due to the extensive diplomatic, cultural, and spiritual influence of his position. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and is also known as the "supreme pontiff". The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally appointed Saint Peter as the head of the Church, and the Pope is seen as the successor of Saint Peter. The title "pope", derived from the Latin "papa", meaning "father", was first used in the mid-10th century in reference to the 7th-century Roman Pope Vitalian.
In the early centuries of Christianity, the title "pope" was applied to all bishops and other senior clergy, especially in the East. Over time, the use of the title became reserved for the Bishop of Rome, a reservation that was made official in the 11th century during the reign of Pope Leo I (440–461). The first certain dates in papal history are AD 222 and 235, the elections of Urban I and Liberius. The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed, with the first ancient lists of popes being written in the late 2nd century, after the monarchical episcopate had already developed in Rome. These first lists combined contradictory traditions, and even the succession of the first popes is disputed.
The Pope was originally chosen by senior clergymen resident in and near Rome. In 1059, the electorate was restricted to the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and in 1179, the individual votes of all cardinal electors were made equal. The Pope does not need to be a cardinal elector or even a cardinal; any male baptized Catholic is eligible. However, it has been over 500 years since a non-cardinal was elected Pope, and it is generally expected that the Pope will be a bishop, as he must be ordained as one if he is not already.
The Pope makes decisions on issues of faith and morality for Catholics worldwide, a population of about 1.3 billion. In 1870, the dogma of papal infallibility was proclaimed, stating that the Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra ("from the chair") to issue a formal definition of faith or morals. This doctrine was not new but had been implicit in the early Church, with a clearer understanding developing over time. The Pope's infallibility applies only to solemn, official teachings on faith and morals and does not include private theological opinions or unofficial comments.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and must be a baptised Catholic.
No, the Pope does not need to be a Cardinal. However, they must be a male who can be ordained a bishop.
No, the Pope does not have to be a priest. However, if they are not already a bishop, they must be consecrated as one immediately after being elected.
Although it is possible for a layman to be elected Pope, it is extremely unlikely. This is because of the extensive sacred and human experience required for the role.
