Sarah Mitchell
Catholics refer to the pope in several ways, including Holy Father, His Holiness, Head of the Church, Head of the Universal Church, Roman Pontiff, Sovereign Pontiff, Supreme Pontiff, Patriarch of the West, Servant of the Servants of God, Most Holy Lord, Supreme Authority, and Bishop of Rome. The pope 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. As the bishop of Rome, the pope has full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. The pope is also the head of state of Vatican City, an ecclesiastical state surrounded by Rome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Pope, Papa, Holy Father, Supreme Pontiff, Roman Pontiff, Sovereign Pontiff, Pontifex Maximus, Patriarch of the West, Servant of the Servants of God, Most Holy Lord, Head of the Church, Visible Head of the Church, Head of the Universal Church, Vicar of Christ, His Holiness, Your Holiness |
| Residence | Vatican City |
| Authority | Supreme authority in Roman Catholic societal hierarchy, Successor of Saint Peter, Head of the Bishops, Supreme power of jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government |
| Election | Elected by the cardinals upon the death or resignation of the previous pope |
| Current Pope | Pope Leo XIV, elected on 8 May 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics refer to the pope as the Holy Father
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The title "pope" dates back to the 9th or 10th century CE. Catholics believe that the pope is the successor of Saint Peter, who was the head of the Apostles of Jesus. As such, the pope is seen as having supreme power and jurisdiction over the Catholic Church in matters of faith, morals, discipline, and government.
The pope is also known by several other titles, including supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. The term pontiff is commonly found in inscriptions on buildings, paintings, and coins related to the popes. The pope is also referred to as Patriarch of the West, indicating his authority over the Latin Church and other Latin patriarchs. Additionally, the pope is often called the Head of the Church, the Visible Head of the Church, or the Head of the Universal Church.
The proper pronoun for the pope is "His Holiness" or "Your Holiness" when addressed directly. The current pope is Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
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The pope is the successor of St. Peter
The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was the head of the Apostles of Jesus. St. Peter is also believed to be the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Rome. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally appointed Peter as the head of the Church, and bestowed upon him the Keys of Heaven and the powers of "binding and loosing". Peter is also referred to as the "rock" upon which the Church would be built.
The Pope, as the successor of St. Peter, is seen as having full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. This is known as the doctrine of papal primacy. The Pope is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. The title "pope" is derived from the word "papa", which is officially used as a less solemn style.
The idea of the Pope as the successor of St. Peter is based on the concept of apostolic succession, which holds that the pastoral office held by the apostles as a group, with Saint Peter as their head, is now held by their successors, the bishops, with the bishop of Rome (the Pope) as their head. This belief is supported by writings from several Early Church Fathers, who refer to the authority and unique position held by the bishops of Rome.
However, the doctrine of papal primacy and the idea of the Pope as the successor of St. Peter are not universally accepted. While some traditional Christian churches accept the doctrine of apostolic succession and papal primacy to a certain extent, they generally reject the idea that the Pope is the successor of Peter in any other sense than that of other bishops. These churches see no foundation for papal claims of universal immediate jurisdiction or infallibility.
The specific identity of St. Peter's successor is a matter of some debate. While some sources claim that it was Linus, others argue that there is a lack of historical evidence to support this claim. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church recognizes Linus as the second Bishop of Rome (Pope), followed by Anacletus, Clement of Rome, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius, Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutherius.
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The pope is the supreme authority in Roman Catholic hierarchy
The Pope, the bishop of Rome, is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The title "Pope" is derived from the Latin "papa" and the Greek "pappas", both meaning "father". The earliest recorded use of the title in English dates to the mid-10th century, referring to the 7th-century Roman Pope Vitalian.
The Pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was head of the Apostles of Jesus. As such, the Pope has full and supreme power over the universal church in matters of faith, morals, church discipline, and government. The Catholic doctrine of papal primacy is based on the idea that it was instituted by Christ, who conferred primacy upon St. Peter, giving him the Keys of Heaven and the powers of "binding and loosing".
The Pope is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the Pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the Vatican City state. The Pope, as the bishop of Rome, is the head of the Holy See, the Roman Catholic Church's central government, which is assisted by the various departments of the Roman Curia.
The Pope's authority is not universally accepted, even within the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church, for example, has long been willing to accord the bishop of Rome the primacy of honour given to patriarchs, but rejects the doctrine of papal primacy as a major obstacle to ecumenical efforts. Protestant opposition to papal supremacy can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation, with early Reformers such as Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and John Calvin being highly critical of papal authority.
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The pope is the head of the Catholic Church
Catholics believe that Jesus established the hierarchy of the Catholic Church when he chose the apostles to spread his ministry. The pope, as the successor of St. Peter, carries on this apostolic mission, ensuring unity in the Church's teachings and protecting the faith. The pope is also referred to as the "Holy Father," reflecting the idea that he leads Christ's Church on earth.
The pope is elected by the cardinals upon the death or resignation of the previous pope. The current pope, Pope Leo XIV, was elected in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV is known for his theological depth, diplomatic skills, and pastoral heart, signalling the Church's intent to engage with contemporary issues while remaining rooted in tradition.
The pope is the head of state of the Vatican City state and resides in Vatican City, an ecclesiastical state surrounded by Rome. The jurisdiction of the pope's episcopal see is known as the Holy See, which is also the governing body of the Catholic Church. The pope is sometimes referred to as the "Patriarch of the West," indicating his authority over the Latin Church and other Latin patriarchs.
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The pope is the bishop of Rome
The Catholic Church teaches that the pastoral office, held by the apostles as a group with Saint Peter as their head, is now held by their successors, the bishops, with the bishop of Rome (the pope) as their head. This gives rise to another title by which the pope is known: "supreme pontiff". The pope is also referred to as the "supreme pontiff", "Roman pontiff", or "sovereign pontiff". From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the Vatican City state.
The pope is also known as the "Head of the Church" ("Caput Ecclesiae"), the "Visible Head of the Church", or the "Head of the Universal Church". The proper pronoun for the pope is "His Holiness", "Sua Sanctitas" in Latin, or "Sua Santità" in Italian. The form "Your Holiness" is used when addressing him directly.
The pope is the earthly leader of the Catholic Church and the head of state representing its governing body, known as the Holy See. The pope is believed to be infallible when he defines doctrine on faith and morals for the entire Church, whether at an ecumenical council with his brother bishops or in unity with bishops dispersed throughout the world. This infallibility does not mean the pope is sinless, but rather that he and his brother bishops will be protected from error when teaching on a particular doctrinal matter, thereby ensuring the Church remains faithful to Christ's truth.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics refer to the Pope using titles such as “Holy Father”, “Supreme Pontiff”, “Roman Pontiff”, “Sovereign Pontiff”, “Patriarch of the West”, “Head of the Church”, “Visible Head of the Church”, “Head of the Universal Church”, “His Holiness”, “Your Holiness”, “Most Holy Lord”, “Our Lord”, “Our Most Holy Lord”, “Servant of the Servants of God”, and “Prince of the Apostles”.
Catholics refer to the Pope as "Holy Father" because, after Christ's death and resurrection, Christians called themselves and each other "holy ones" or "saints", called by God to be his. In 1 Peter 1:16, it is written, "it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'". As the head of his holy people, the Pope is called Holy Father.
The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was the head of the Apostles of Jesus. As the bishop of Rome, the Pope has supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. He is also the head of state representing the governing body of the Catholic Church, known as the Holy See.
