Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Papst (Titel)

2005-04-20T15:59:35Z

Alterego: Reverted edit of 167.93.28.61, changed back to last version by 198.51.251.201

:''This entry is about the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rome. For other uses of the word, see [[Pope (disambiguation)]].''

The '''Pope''' is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of [[Rome]], and head of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Rite|Eastern Catholic Churches]]. The office of the Pope is informally called the Papacy and formally called the Pontificate; his ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the [[Holy See]] (''Sancta Sedes''). Catholics worldwide consider each pope to be successor of [[Saint Peter]] who was, according to tradition, first bishop of Rome and thus first pope. Early bishops of Rome were designated "vicar (representative) of Peter"; later Popes were designated "vicar of Christ", a telling change.

In addition to this spiritual role, the Pope also serves as [[head of state]] of the independent, sovereign [[Vatican City|State of the Vatican City]], a [[city-state]] entirely surrounded by the city of [[Rome]]. Prior to [[1870]], the Pope's temporal authority extended over a large area of central [[Italy]], a territory more familiar as the [[Papal States]] that was formally known as the "Patrimony of St Peter". Though the document on which the territorial powers of the Pontificate were based—the so-called [[Donation of Constantine]]—was proved a forgery in the 15th century, the Pope retained sovereign authority over the Papal States until the [[Italian Unification]] of [[1870]], and a final political settlement between the Italian government and the Pope was not reached until the [[Lateran Treaties]] of [[1929]].

[[Image:MilChapPope.jpg|thumb|250px|Pope [[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]] was elected on [[April 19]], [[2005]] and will be officially installed as Pope on [[April 24]]th.]]

The current pope is [[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]] (born Joseph Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on [[19 April]] [[2005]]. He succeeds the late [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]], who was elected at the age of 58 in [[1978]].

Pope Benedict XVI is the second non-Italian to be elected to the pontificate since [[Adrian VI]], who was briefly pope in [[1522]]-[[1523|23]], ([[John Paul II]] (pope [[1978]]-[[2005]]) was the first), and is also the first German to take the seat since the 11th century. In some quarters, it is felt that Benedict's election as pope is further evidence that the papacy is moving away from being an Italian-dominated institution.

==Office and nature==
The title "Pope" is an informal one; the formal title of the pope is "[[Bishop of Rome]], Vicar of Jesus Christ, [[Apostolic Succession|Successor]] of the [[Saint Peter|Prince of the Apostles]], [[Pontifex Maximus|Supreme Pontiff]] of the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Universal Church]], [[Patriarch]] of the West, [[Primate (religion)|Primate]] of Italy, [[Archbishop]] and [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, [[Servus Servorum Dei|Servant of the Servants of God]]," although this is rarely seen or used in full (by comparison, the formal title of the Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria is "Successor of Saint Mark the Apostle, Shepherd of Shepherds, Father of Fathers, Supreme Pontiff of All Metropolitans and Bishops, Judge of the World, and Beloved of Christ", often called the "Ecumenical Judge"; the Coptic Pope is styled "Pope and Patriarch of the See of Alexandria and of All the Predication of the Evangelist St. Mark"). In [[canon law]] he is referred to as the "Roman Pontiff" (''Pontifex Romanus''). The Roman Pope is styled "[[Your Holiness]]" (''Sanctitas Vostra'') and is frequently referred to as "the Holy Father."

The pope's signature is usually in the format "''NN. PP. x''" (''e.g.'', [[Pope Paul VI]] signed his name as "Paulus PP. VI"), and his name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation "Pont. Max." or "P.M." (abbreviation of the ancient title ''[[Pontifex Maximus]]'', literally "Greatest Bridge-maker", but usually translated "Supreme Pontiff"). The signature of [[Papal bull]]s is customarily ''NN. Episcopus Ecclesia Catholicae'' ("NN. Bishop of the Catholic Church"), while the heading is ''NN. Episcopus [[Servus Servorum Dei]]'' ("NN. Bishop and Servant of the Servants of God"), the latter title dating to the time of [[Pope Gregory I]] ''the Great''. Other titles used in some official capacity include ''Summus Pontifex'' ("Highest Pontiff"), ''Sanctissimus Pater'' and ''Beatissimus Pater'' ("Most Holy Father" and "Most Blessed Father"), ''Sanctissimus Dominus Noster'' ("Our Most Holy Lord"), and, in the [[Middle Ages|Medieval period]], ''Dominus Apostolicus'' ("Apostolic Lord").

[[Image:Vatican flag large.png|right|thumb|125px|[[Flag of the Vatican City|Flag]] of the [[Vatican City]]]]

The pope's official residence is the [[Palace of the Vatican]], and he also possesses a summer palace at [[Castel Gandolfo]] (situated on the site of the ancient city-state [[Alba Longa]]). Historically the official residence of the Pope was the [[Lateran Palace]], donated by the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantinus I]]. The former Papal summer palace, the [[Quirinal Palace]], has subsequently been the official residence of the [[King of Italy|Kings of Italy]] and [[President of Italy|Presidents of the Italian Republic]].

Contrary to popular belief, it is the pope's ecclesiastical jurisdiction (the Holy See) and not his secular jurisdiction (Vatican City) which conducts international relations; for hundreds of years, the Pope's court (the [[Roman Curia]]) has functioned as the government of the Catholic Church.
The name "Holy See" (also "Apostolic See") is in ecclesiastical terminology the ordinary jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (including the Roman Curia); the pope's various honours, powers, and privileges within the Catholic Church and the international community derive from his Episcopate of Rome in lineal succession from the [[Apostle]] [[St. Peter]] (see [[Apostolic Succession]]). Consequently Rome has traditionally occupied a central position in the Catholic Church, although this is not necessarily so. The Pope derives his Pontificate from being Bishop of Rome but is not obligated to reside in Rome; according to the Latin formula ''ubi Papa, ibi Curia'', wherever the pope resides is the central government of the Church, provided that the pope is Bishop of Rome. As such, between [[1309]] and [[1378]] the Popes resided not in Rome but in [[Avignon]], a period often called the [[Babylonian Captivity]] in allusion to the [[Bible|Biblical]] exile of [[Israel]] (see [[Avignon Papacy]]).

Catholic [[tradition]] maintains that the institution of the Pontificate can be found in the [[Bible]], and cites certain key passages in support of this contention. Chief among these passages is [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew xvi: 18 – 19]], wherein Jesus Christ says to [[St. Peter]]:

<blockquote>
''"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter ''("The Rock" derived from Greek)'', and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven".''
</blockquote>

Other important passages include [[Gospel of Luke|Luke xxii: 31 – 32]], [[Gospel of John|John i: 42]], and [[John 21:15-19|John xxi: 15 – 17]].

==Regalia and insignia==
[[Image:Papal insignia.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Vatican coat of arms]]
''Main article: [[Papal regalia and insignia]].''

*The "[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]" (a thrice-crowned hat), also called the "tiara" or "triple crown"; recent popes have not, however, worn the ''triregnum'' and have instead chosen to wear the episcopal [[mitre]] (an erect cloth hat, commonly called the Pope Hat).
*Staff topped by an erect [[crucifix]], a custom established before the [[Thirteenth century]].
*The [[pallium]] (a circular band of fabric about two inches wide, worn over the [[chasuble]] about the neck, breast and shoulders and having two twelve-inch-long pendants hanging down in front and behind, ornamented with six small, black crosses distributed about the breast, back, shoulders, and pendants).
*The "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven", the image of two keys, one gold and one silver. The silver key symbolises the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven.
*The [[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]], a gold ring decorated with a depiction of St. Peter in a boat casting his net, with the name of the reigning Pope around it.
*The ''[[umbracullum]]'' (better known in the Italian form ''ombrellino'') is a canopy or umbrella (consisting of alternating red and gold stripes).
*One of the most familiar (and now discontinued) trappings of the Papacy was the ''[[sedia gestatoria]]'', a mobile throne or armchair carried by twelve footmen (''palafrenieri'') in red uniforms, accompanied by two attendants bearing ''[[flabella]]'' (fans made of white ostrich-feathers). The use of the ''sedia gestatoria'' and of the ''flabella'' was discontinued by [[Pope John Paul II]], with the former being replaced by the so-called [[Popemobile]].

In heraldry, the Pope's arms are surmounted by the aforementioned two keys in saltire (i.e., crossed over one another so as to form an X) behind the escutcheon (one key silver and one key gold, tied with a red cord), and above them a silver ''triregnum'' with three gold crowns and red ''infulae'', or the red strips of fabric hanging from the back over the shoulders when worn ("two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or"). The flag most frequently associated with the Pope is the yellow and white flag of Vatican City, with the arms of the Holy See ("Gules, two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or") on the right hand side in the white half of the flag. This flag was first adopted in [[1808]], whereas the previous flag had been red and gold, the traditional colours of the Pontificate.

==Status and authority==
The status and authority of the Pope in the Catholic Church was dogmatically defined by the [[First Vatican Council]] in its Dogmatic Constitution of the Church of Christ ([[July 18]], [[1870]]). The first chapter of this document is entitled "On the institution of the apostolic primacy in blessed Peter", and states that (s.1) "according to the Gospel evidence, a primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church of [[God]] was immediately and directly promised to the blessed apostle Peter and conferred on him by Christ the Lord" and that (s.6) "if anyone says that blessed Peter the [[apostle]] was not appointed by Christ the Lord as prince of all the apostles and visible head of the whole church militant; or that it was a primacy of honour only and not one of true and proper jurisdiction that he directly and immediately received from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself: let him be [[anathema]]."

The Dogmatic Constitution's second chapter, "On the permanence of the primacy of blessed Peter in the Roman pontiffs", states that (s.1) "that which our Lord Jesus Christ [...] established in the blessed apostle Peter [...] must of necessity remain forever, by Christ's authority, in the church which, founded as it is upon a rock, will stand firm until the end of time," that (s.3) "whoever succeeds to the chair of Peter obtains by the institution of Christ Himself, the primacy of Peter over the whole church", and that (s.5) "if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the Lord Himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole church; or that the Roman pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be anathema."

The Dogmatic Constitution's third chapter, "On the power and character of the [[primacy of the Roman pontiff]]," states that (s.1) "the definition of the [[ecumenical council]] of [[Council of Florence|Florence]], which must be believed by all faithful [[Christianity|Christian]]s, namely that the apostolic see and the Roman pontiff hold a world-wide primacy, and that the Roman pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, true vicar of Christ, head of the whole church and father and teacher of all Christian people," that (s.2) "by divine ordinance, the Roman church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other church, and that the jurisdictional power of the Roman pontiff is both episcopal and immediate" and that "[[clergy]] and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity, both singly and collectively, are bound to submit to this power by the duty of [[hierarchy|hierarchical]] subordination and true obedience, and this not only in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the church throughout the world."

The powers of the Pope are defined by the Dogmatic Constitution (ch.3, s.8) such that "he is the supreme judge of the faithful, and that in all cases which fall under ecclesiastical jurisdiction recourse may be had to his judgement" and that "the sentence of the apostolic see (than which there is no higher authority) is not subject to revision by anyone, nor may anyone lawfully pass judgement thereupon" (can. 331 defines the power of the Pope as "supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the Church, and he can always freely exercise this power"). It also dogmatically defined (ch.4, s.9) the doctrine of [[papal infallibility|Papal infallibility]], ''sc.'' such that

:when the Roman Pontiff speaks ''ex cathedra'', that is, when in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church, he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed His church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable.

==Political role==
Though the progressive [[Christianization|Christianisation]] of the [[Roman Empire]] in the [[Fourth century]] did not confer upon bishops civil authority within the state, the gradual withdrawal of imperial authority during the [[5th century]] left the Pope the senior Imperial civilian official in Rome, as bishops were increasingly directing civil affairs in other cities of the Western Empire. This status as a secular and civil leader was vividly displayed by [[Pope Leo I]]'s confrontation with [[Attila]] in [[452]] and was substantially increased in [[754]], when the [[Franks|Frankish]] ruler [[Pepin the Short]] donated to the Pope a strip of territory which formed the core of the so-called [[Papal States]] (properly the Patrimony of St. Peter). In [[800]], [[Pope Leo III]] crowned the Frankish ruler [[Charlemagne]] as Roman Emperor, a major step toward establishing what later became known as the [[Holy Roman Empire]]; from that date it became the Pope's prerogative to crown the Emperor, a tradition which continued until [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]], the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by the Pope (subsequent Emperors never received coronation), and which was partially revived by [[Napoléon Bonaparte]]. As has been hitherto mentioned, the pope's sovereignty over the Papal States ended in [[1870]] with their annexation by [[Italy]].

In addition to the pope's position as a territorial ruler and foremost [[prince bishop]] of Christianity (especially prominent with the [[Renaissance]] popes like [[Pope Alexander VI]] an ambitious if spectacularly corrupt politico, and [[Pope Julius II]], a formidable general and statesman) and as the spiritual head of the Holy Roman Empire (especially prominent during periods of contention with the Emperors, such as during the Pontificates of [[Pope Gregory VII]] and [[Pope Alexander III]]), the pope also possessed a degree of political and temporal authority in his capacity as Supreme Pontiff. Some of the most striking examples of Papal political authority are the Bull ''[[Laudabiliter]]'' in [[1155]] (authorising [[Henry II of England]] to invade [[Ireland]]), the Bull ''[[Inter Caeteras]]'' in [[1493]] (leading to the [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] in [[1494]], which divided the world into areas of [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] rule) the Bull ''[[Regnans in Excelsis]]'' in [[1570]] ([[excommunication|excommunicating]] [[Elizabeth I of England]] and purporting to release all her subjects from their allegiance to her), the Bull ''[[Inter Gravissimas]]'' in [[1582]] (establishing the [[Gregorian Calendar]]).

==Death, abdication, and election==
===Death===
The current regulations regarding a papal [[interregnum]] -- i.e., a ''[[sede vacante]]'' "vacant seat" -- were promulgated by John Paul II in his [[1996]] document ''[[Universi Dominici Gregis]]''. During the ''sede vacante'', the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]], composed of the pope's principal advisors and assistants, is collectively responsible for the government of the Church and of the Vatican itself, under the direction of the [[Camerlengo|Cardinal Chamberlain]]; however, canon law specifically forbids the Cardinals from introducing any innovation in the government of the Church during the vacancy of the [[Holy See]]. Any decision that needs the assent of the pope has to wait until a new Pope has been elected and takes office.

It is claimed that a pope's death is officially determined by the Cardinal Chamberlain by gently tapping the late pope's head thrice with a silver hammer and calling his birth name three times, though this is disputed and has never been confirmed by the Vatican. A doctor may or may not have already determined that the pope had passed away. The Cardinal Chamberlain then retrieves the [[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]]. Usually the ring is on the Pope's right hand. But with Paul VI, he had stopped wearing the ring during the last years of his reign, and left it in his desk. In other cases the ring might have been removed for medical reasons. The Chamberlain cuts the ring in two in the presence of the Cardinals. The deceased Pope's seals are defaced, to keep the Pope's seal from ever being used again, and his personal apartment is sealed.

The body then lies in state for a number of days before being interred in the [[crypt]] of a leading church or cathedral; the Popes of the [[Twentieth century]] were all interred in [[St. Peter's Basilica]]. A nine-day period of mourning (''novem dialis'') follows after the interment of the late Pope.

===[[Papal abdication|Abdication]]===
The Code of [[Canon law|Canon]] Law [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P16.HTM 332 §2] states, ''If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.''

It was widely reported in June and July [[2002]] that the Pope John Paul II firmly refuted the speculation of his resignation using Canon 332, in a letter to the Milan daily newspaper ''Corriere della Sera''.

Nevertheless, 332 §2 gave rise to speculation that either:
* Pope John Paul II would have resigned as his health failed, or
* a properly manifested legal instrument had already been drawn up that put into effect his resignation in the event of his incapacity to perform his duties.

Pope John Paul II did not resign. He died on [[2 April]] [[2005]] after suffering from many diseases and was buried on [[8 April]] [[2005]]. [http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Pope+Dead&btnG=Search+News Articles on the death of John Paul II]

After his death it was revealed in his [[last will and testament]] that he considered abdicating in [[2000]] as he neared his 80th birthday.

===[[Papal election|Election]]===

The pope was originally chosen by those senior [[clergy]]men resident in and near Rome. In [[1059]], the electorate was restricted to the [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinals]] of the Holy Roman Church, and the individual votes of all Cardinal Electors were made equal in [[1179]]. The Pope is usually a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, but theoretically any male Catholic (including a layman) may be elected; [[Pope Urban VI]], elected [[1378]], was the last pope who was not already a cardinal at the time of his election. Canon law requires that if a layman or non-bishop is elected, he receives episcopal consecration from the [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] before assuming the Pontificate. Under present canon law, the pope is elected by the cardinal electors, comprising those cardinals who are under the age of 80.

The [[Second Council of Lyons]] was convened on [[May 7]], [[1274]], to regulate the election of the pope. This Council decreed that the cardinal electors must meet within ten days of the pope's death, and that they must remain in seclusion until a pope has been elected; this was prompted by the three-year ''Sede Vacante'' following the death of [[Pope Clement IV]] in [[1268]]. By the mid-[[Sixteenth century]], the electoral process had more or less evolved into its present form, allowing for alteration in the time between the death of the pope and the meeting of the cardinal electors.

Traditionally the vote was conducted by acclamation, by selection, by committee, or by plenary vote. Acclamation was the simplest procedure, consisting entirely of a voice vote, and was last used in [[1621]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] abolished vote by acclamation and by selection by committee, and henceforth all Popes will be elected by full vote of the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]] by [[ballot]].

The election of the pope almost always takes place in the [[Sistine Chapel]], in a meeting called a "[[papal election|conclave]]" (so called because the cardinal electors are theoretically locked in, ''cum clavi'', until they elect a new Pope). Three cardinals are chosen by lot to collect the votes of absent cardinal electors (by reason of illness), three are chosen by lot to count the votes, and three are chosen by lot to review the count of the votes. The ballots are distributed and each cardinal elector writes the name of his choice on it and pledges aloud that he is voting for "one whom under God I think ought to be elected" before folding and depositing his vote on a plate atop a large chalice placed on the altar. The plate is then used to drop the ballot into the chalice, making it difficult for any elector to insert multiple ballots. Before being read, the number of ballots are counted while still folded; if the total number of ballots does not match the number of electors, the ballots are burned unopened and a new vote is held. Assuming the number of ballots matches the number of electors, each ballot is then read aloud by the presiding Cardinal, who pierces the ballot with a needle and thread, stringing all the ballots together and tying the ends of the thread to ensure accuracy and honesty. Balloting continues until a Pope is elected by a two-thirds majority (since the promulgation of ''Universi Dominici Gregis'' the rules allow for a simple majority after a deadlock of twelve days).
[[Image:John23leo.jpg|right|thumb|216px|[[Pope John XXIII]] wearing the [[Papal Tiara]] following his [[coronation]], a tradition which has now been discontinued.]]

One of the most famous aspects of the papal-election process is the means by which the results of a ballot are announced to the world. Once the ballots are counted and bound together, they are burned in a special oven erected in the Sistine Chapel, with the smoke escaping through a small chimney visible from [[St Peter's Square]]. The ballots from an unsuccessful vote are burned along with a chemical compound in order to produce black smoke, or "fumata nera." (Traditionally wet straw was used to help create the black smoke, but a number of "false alarms" in past conclaves have brought about this concession to modern chemistry.) When a vote is successful, the ballots are burned alone, sending white smoke ("fumata bianca") through the chimney and announcing to the world the election of a new Pope. At the end of the conclave that elected [[Pope Benedict XVI]], church bells were also rung to signal that a new pope had been chosen.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals then asks the successfully elected Cardinal two solemn questions. First he asks, "Do you freely accept your election?" If he replies with the word "Accepto," his reign as Pope begins at that instant, not at the coronation ceremony several days afterward. The Dean then asks, "By what name shall you be called?" The new Pope then announces the name he has chosen for himself (starting in [[535]], the Pope has customarily chosen a new name for himself during his Pontificate; the names are not based on any system other than general honorifics, and have been based on immediate predecessors, mentors, and political similarity).

The new pope is led through the "Door of Tears" to a dressing room in which three sets of white Papal vestments ("immantatio") await: small, medium, and large. Donning the appropriate vestments and re-emerging into the Sistine Chapel, the new Pope is given the "[[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]]" by the Cardinal Camerlengo, whom he either reconfirms or reappoints. The Pope then assumes a place of honor as the rest of the Cardinals wait in turn to offer their first "obedience" ("adoratio"), and to receive his blessing.

The senior cardinal deacon then announces from a balcony over St. Peter's Square the following proclamation: ''Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam!'' ("I announce to you a great joy! We have a Pope!")

Until [[1978]], the Pope's election was followed in a few days by a procession in great pomp and circumstance from the Sistine Chapel to [[St. Peter's Basilica]], with the newly-elected Pope borne in the ''sedia gestatoria''. There the Pope was crowned with the ''[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]'' and he gave his first blessing as Pope, the famous ''[[Urbi et Orbi]]'' ("to the City [Rome] and to the World"). Another famed part of the coronation was the lighting of a torch which would flare brightly and promptly extinguish, with the admonition ''Sic transit gloria mundi'' ("Thus fades worldly glory"). Traditionally, the pope-elect takes the [[Papal oath]] (the so called "Oath against modernism") at his coronation, but [[John Paul I]] and later [[John Paul II]] refused to do so.

The [[Latin language|Latin]] term ''sede vacante'' ("vacant seat") refers to a papal interregnum, the period between the death of the Pope and the election of his successor. From this term is derived the name [[sedevacantism|Sedevacantist]], which designates a category of dissident, schismatic Catholics who maintain that there is no canonically and legitimately elected Pope, and that there is therefore a ''Sede Vacante''; one of the most common reasons for holding this belief is the idea that the reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and especially the replacement of the [[Tridentine Mass]] with the ''[[Novus Ordo Missae]]'' are heretical, and that, per the dogma of Papal infallibility (see above), it is impossible for a valid Pope to have done these things.

==Objections to the Papacy==
The Pope's position as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church is [[dogma]]tic and therefore not open to debate or dispute within the Catholic Church; the First Vatican Council [[anathema]]tised all who dispute the Pope's primacy of honour and of jurisdiction (it is lawful to discuss the precise nature of that primacy, provided that such discussion does not violate the terms of the Council's Dogmatic Constitution). However, the Pope's authority is not undisputed outside the Catholic Church; these objections differ from denomination to denomination, but can roughly be outlined as (1.) objections to the extent of the primacy of the Pope; and (2.) objections to the institution of the Papacy itself.
[[Image:J23paceminterris.jpg|frame|John XXIII signed his [[encyclical]] ''Pacem in Terris''.]]

Some non-Catholic Christian communities, such as the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Church]], and the [[Anglican Communion]], accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], and therefore accept (to varying extents) the claim that the pope as successor to [[St. Peter]] is heir to Petrine primacy of honour. These churches deny, however, the claim that the pope is also heir to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. Because none of them recognise the First Vatican Council as ecumenical, they regard its definitions of papal jurisdiction and infallibility (and [[anathema]]tisation of those who do not accept them) as non-binding.

Other non-Catholic Christian denominations do not accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], or do not understand it in hierarchical terms, and therefore do not accept the claim that the Pope is heir either to Petrine primacy of honour or to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. The Papacy's complex relationship with the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine Empire]]s, and other secular states, and the Papacy's territorial claims in Italy, are another focal point of these objections; as is the [[monarch]]ical character of the office of Pope. In [[Western Christianity]], these objections — and the vehement rhetoric they have at times been cast in — both contributed to, and are products of, the [[Protestant Reformation]]. These denominations vary from simply not accepting the pope's authority as legitimate and valid, to believing that the pope is the [[Antichrist]] or one of the beasts spoken of in the [[Book of Revelation]]. These denominations tend to be more heterogeneous amongst themselves than the aforementioned hierarchical churches, and their views regarding the Papacy and its institutional legitimacy (or lack thereof) vary considerably.

Some objectors to the papacy use empirical arguments, pointing to the corrupt characters of some of the holders of that office. For instance, some argue that claimed successors to [[St. Peter]], like Popes [[Pope Alexander VI|Alexander VI]] and [[Callixtus III]] from the [[Borgia]] family, were so corrupt as to be unfit to wield power to bind and loose on Earth or in Heaven. An omniscient and omnibenevolent God, some argue, would not have given those people the powers claimed for them by the [[Catholic Church]]. Defenders of the papacy argue that the Bible shows God as willingly giving privileges even to corrupt men (citing examples like some of the kings of Israel, the apostle [[Judas Iscariot]], and even St. Peter after he denied Jesus). They also argue that not even the worst of the corrupt popes used the office to try to rip the doctrine of the Church from its apostolic roots, and that this is evidence that the office is divinely protected.

==Other Popes==
The [[Discordian]] religion has a preponderance of Popes, too numerous to name here. As a general rule, an [[Erisian]] becomes a Pope by declaring themselves to be one.

An '''[[antipope]]''' is a person who claims the Pontificate without being canonically and properly elected to it. The existence of an antipope is usually due either to doctrinal controversy within the Church, or to confusion as to who is the legitimate pope at the time (see [[Western Schism|Papal Schism]]).

The head of the [[Jesuit]] Order of Priests has always been called the [[Black Pope]] due to that order of priests always wearing a long black robe including its leader. (Compared to the Pope always wearing white robes.)

The heads of the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] are also called "Popes" for historical reasons, the former being called "'''Coptic Pope'''" or "'''Pope of Alexandria'''" and the latter called "'''Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa'''"; the parallel construction "'''Pope of Rome'''" is frequently used in the Eastern churches.

In [[Islam]], the former office of [[Caliph]] held similar meaning, as the leader of all Muslims, subordinate only to the prophet [[Muhammad]].

==See also==
*[[List of popes|Chronological list of popes]]
*[[Pope Benedict XVI]]
*[[Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy]]
*[[List of 10 longest-reigning Popes]]
*[[List of 10 shortest-reigning Popes]]
*[[Vestment]]
*[[Immaculate Conception]]
*[[Assumption of Mary|Assumption]]
*[[Ecumenical Council]]
*[[College of Bishops]]
*[[Pontifical University]]
*[[Caesaropapism]]
*[[Investiture Controversy]]
*[[African popes]]
*[[List of French popes]]

==External links==
'''Roman Catholic Pope'''
*[http://www.vatican.va/ The Holy See]
*[http://www.pope-john-paul.com/ Inside the Vatican: Pope John Paul]
*[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM Code of Canon Law] – Vatican site
*[http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/20ecume3.htm The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ], Fourth Session of the First Vatican Council
*[http://web.globalserve.net/~bumblebee/ecclesia/patriarchs.htm Eastern Church Defends Petrine Primacy and the Papacy]
*[http://thepopeblog.blogspot.com/ The Pope Blog] – Unofficial weblog about the Pope
*[http://breakingnewsblog.com/pope/ Pope Watch] News and Information on the Life and Death of Pope John Paul II
*[http://www.geocities.com/hashanayobel/papalinfo.htm Papal information] News about ongoing Papal Events
*[http://www.punditguy.com/2005/04/german_pope.html Pope Election News Roundup]
*[http://www.popechart.com/index.htm Home of the Original Pope Chart]

'''Coptic Orthodox Pope'''
*[http://www.copticpope.org/ Official website]—The Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and of the See of Saint Mark the Apostle

[[Category:Christian leaders]]
[[Category:Popes| ]]
[[Category:Positions of authority]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church]]

[[als:Papst]]
[[bn:পোপ]]
[[ca:Papa]]
[[da:Pave]]
[[de:Papst]]
[[eo:Papo]]
[[es:Papa]]
[[fi:Paavi]]
[[fr:Pape]]
[[he:אפיפיור]]
[[hu:Pápa (egyházfő)]]
[[id:Paus (Katholik Roma)]]
[[it:Papa]]
[[ja:ローマ教皇]]
[[ko:교황]]
[[la:Papa]]
[[lt:Popiežius]]
[[nl:paus]]
[[no:Pave]]
[[pl:Papież]]
[[pt:Papa]]
[[ro:Papă]]
[[ru:Папство]]
[[sr:Папа]]
[[sk:Pápež]]
[[sl:papež]]
[[sv:Påve]]
[[zh:教宗]]

Papst (Titel)

2005-04-14T18:11:07Z

Alterego: Reverted edit of 70.178.26.148, changed back to last version by 199.88.16.253

{{christianity}}
{{otheruses}}

The '''Pope''' is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of [[Rome]], and head of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Rite|Eastern Catholic Churches]] (note that the name within the communion is simply "the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church]]," a title also claimed by, and thus disputed by, both the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Anglican Communion]]). The office of the Pope is informally called the Papacy and formally called the Pontificate; his ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the [[Holy See]] (''Sancta Sedes''). Catholics worldwide consider each pope to be successor of [[Saint Peter]] who was, according to tradition, first bishop of Rome and thus first Pope. Early bishops of Rome were designated "vicar (representative) of Peter"; later Popes were designated "vicar of Christ", a telling change.

In addition to this spiritual role, the Pope also serves as [[head of state]] of the independent, sovereign [[Vatican City|State of the Vatican City]], a [[city-state]] entirely surrounded by the city of [[Rome]]. Prior to [[1870]], the Pope's temporal authority extended over a large area of central [[Italy]], a territory more familiar as the [[Papal States]] that was formally known as the "Patrimony of St Peter". Though the document on which the territorial powers of the Pontificate were based—the so-called [[Donation of Constantine]]—was proved a forgery in the 15th century, the Pope retained sovereign authority over the Papal States until the [[Italian Unification]] of [[1870]], and a final political settlement between the Italian government and the Pope was not reached until the [[Lateran Treaties]] of [[1929]].

Currently, the office of Pope is vacant, a condition known as ''[[sede vacante]]'', or the ''vacant seat''. The most recent Pope was [[Pope John Paul II]], who was elected at the age of 58 in [[1978]]. He was the first non-Italian to be elected to the Pontificate since [[Adrian VI]], who was briefly pope in [[1522]]-[[1523|23]]. Pope John Paul II died 46 days short of his 85th birthday at 19:37 GMT on [[April 2]], [[2005]]. A [[Papal election|conclave]] will assemble on [[April 18]] to conduct a [[Papal election, 2005|Papal Election]] to elect a new Pope.

==Word origins==
The word "Pope" is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''pappas'' ("father") and was originally used in an affectionate sense of any priest or bishop (in the exact same way that modern priests are addressed as "Father"). In the [[4th century|fourth]] and [[5th century|fifth centuries]], ''pappas'' ([[Latin language|Latinized]] as ''papa'', a form still preserved in [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]) was still frequently used of any bishop in the [[Western world|West]], although it came to be restricted to its exclusive use by the Bishop of Rome by [[1073]]. In the [[East]], especially in [[Greece]] and [[Russia]], priests are still referred to as ''pappas''.

It also shares a common heritage with the Greek word ''Patriarch'', meaning head of a clan or extended family. Patriarch was used as an honorific title of certain bishops in the early Christian Church, notably those of Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome.

As early as the [[third century]], the [[Patriarch of Alexandria]] exercised a high degree of central control of suffragan [[Egypt]]ian bishops, in a manner consciously similar to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome; the Alexandrian archbishop was given precedence immediately after the Roman pontiff by the [[Council of Nicaea]], and adopted the title "Pope of Alexandria," which still forms an integral part of the titles of the Greek Orthodox "Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa" and of the Coptic "Pope of Alexandria and of the See of Saint Mark the Apostle." While the designation of pope was fully attached to bishops by the time of [[Leo the Great]] (440-461) it was not until [[1073]] that it was assigned exclusively to the [[Bishop of Rome]].

''Pontiff'', the other title for the pope, is of ancient pagan origin, from the Latin ''pontifex'', the title of a Roman high priest, but is not recorded in English until as late as 1677, specifically then for the pope. The ancient word originally meant "bridge-maker", bridging the earthly world and the realm of the gods. To ''pontificate'' is first recorded in 1825.

==Office and nature==
The title "Pope" is an informal one; the formal title of the Pope is "[[Bishop of Rome]], Vicar of Jesus Christ, [[Apostolic Succession|Successor]] of the [[Saint Peter|Prince of the Apostles]], [[Pontifex Maximus|Supreme Pontiff]] of the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Universal Church]], [[Patriarch]] of the West, [[Primate (religion)|Primate]] of Italy, [[Archbishop]] and [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, [[Servus Servorum Dei|Servant of the Servants of God]]," although this is rarely seen or used in full (by comparison, the formal title of the Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria is "Successor of Saint Mark the Apostle, Shepherd of Shepherds, Father of Fathers, Supreme Pontiff of All Metropolitans and Bishops, Judge of the World, and Beloved of Christ", often called the "Ecumenical Judge"; the Coptic Pope is styled "Pope and Patriarch of the See of Alexandria and of All the Predication of the Evangelist St. Mark"). In [[canon law]] he is referred to as the "Roman Pontiff" (''Pontifex Romanus''). The Pope is styled "[[Your Holiness]]" (''Sanctitas Vostra'') and is frequently referred to as "the Holy Father."

The Pope's signature is usually in the format "''NN. PP. x''" (''e.g.'', [[Pope Paul VI]] signed his name as "Paulus PP. VI"), and his name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation "Pont. Max." or "P.M." (abbreviation of the ancient title ''[[Pontifex Maximus]]'', literally "Greatest Bridge-maker", but usually translated "Supreme Pontiff"). The signature of [[Papal bull]]s is customarily ''NN. Episcopus Ecclesia Catholicae'' ("NN. Bishop of the Catholic Church"), while the heading is ''NN. Episcopus [[Servus Servorum Dei]]'' ("NN. Bishop and Servant of the Servants of God"), the latter title dating to the time of [[Pope Gregory I]] ''the Great''. Other titles used in some official capacity include ''Summus Pontifex'' ("Highest Pontiff"), ''Sanctissimus Pater'' and ''Beatissimus Pater'' ("Most Holy Father" and "Most Blessed Father"), ''Sanctissimus Dominus Noster'' ("Our Most Holy Lord"), and, in the [[Middle Ages|Mediaeval period]], ''Dominus Apostolicus'' ("Apostolic Lord").

[[Image:Vatican flag large.png|right|thumb|125px|[[Flag of the Vatican City|Flag]] of the [[Vatican City]]]]

The Pope's official residence is the [[Palace of the Vatican]], and he also possesses a summer palace at [[Castel Gandolfo]] (believed to be situated on the site of the ancient city-state [[Alba Longa]]). Historically the official residence of the Pope was the [[Lateran Palace]], donated by the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantinus I]]. The former Papal summer palace, the [[Quirinal Palace]], has subsequently been the official residence of the [[King of Italy|Kings of Italy]] and [[President of Italy|Presidents of the Italian Republic]].

Contrary to popular belief, it is the Pope's ecclesiastical jurisdiction (the Holy See) and not his secular jurisdiction (Vatican City) which conducts international relations; for hundreds of years, the Pope's court (the [[Roman Curia]]) has functioned as the government of the Catholic Church.
The name "Holy See" (also "Apostolic See") is in ecclesiastical terminology the ordinary jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (including the Roman Curia); the Pope's various honours, powers, and privileges within the Catholic Church and the international community derive from his Episcopate of Rome in lineal succession from the [[Apostle]] [[St. Peter]] (see [[Apostolic Succession]]). Consequently Rome has traditionally occupied a central position in the Catholic Church, although this is not necessarily so. The Pope derives his Pontificate from being Bishop of Rome but is not obligated to reside in Rome; according to the Latin formula ''ubi Papa, ibi Curia'', wherever the Pope resides is the central government of the Church, provided that the Pope is Bishop of Rome. As such, between [[1309]] and [[1378]] the Popes resided not in Rome but in [[Avignon]], a period often called the [[Babylonian Captivity]] in allusion to the [[Bible|Biblical]] exile of [[Israel]] (see [[Avignon Papacy]]).

Catholic [[tradition]] maintains that the institution of the Pontificate can be found in the [[Bible]], and cites certain key passages in support of this contention. Chief among these passages is [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew xvi: 18 – 19]], wherein Jesus Christ says to [[St. Peter]]:

<blockquote>
''"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter ''("The Rock" derived from Greek)'', and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven".''
</blockquote>

Other important passages include [[Gospel of Luke|Luke xxii: 31 – 32]], [[Gospel of John|John i: 42]], and [[John 21:15-19|John xxi: 15 – 17]].

==Regalia and insignia==
[[Image:Papal insignia.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Vatican coat of arms]]
''Main article: [[Papal regalia and insignia]].''

*The "[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]" (a thrice-crowned hat), also called the "tiara" or "triple crown"; recent popes have not, however, worn the ''triregnum'' and have instead chosen to wear the episcopal [[mitre]] (an erect cloth hat).
*Staff topped by an erect [[crucifix]], a custom established before the [[Thirteenth century]].
*The [[pallium]] (a circular band of fabric about two inches wide, worn over the [[chasuble]] about the neck, breast and shoulders and having two twelve-inch-long pendants hanging down in front and behind, ornamented with six small, black crosses distributed about the breast, back, shoulders, and pendants).
*The "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven", the image of two keys, one gold and one silver. The silver key symbolises the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven.
*The [[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]], a gold ring decorated with a depiction of St. Peter in a boat casting his net, with the name of the reigning Pope around it.
*The ''[[umbracullum]]'' (better known in the Italian form ''ombrellino'') is a canopy or umbrella (consisting of alternating red and gold stripes).
*One of the most familiar (and now discontinued) trappings of the Papacy was the ''sedia gestatoria'', a mobile throne or armchair carried by twelve footmen (''palafrenieri'') in red uniforms, accompanied by two attendants bearing ''flabella'' (fans made of white ostrich-feathers). The use of the ''sedia gestatoria'' and of the ''flabella'' was discontinued by [[Pope John Paul II]], with the former being replaced by the so-called [[Popemobile]].

In heraldry, the Pope's arms are surmounted by the aforementioned two keys in saltire (i.e., crossed over one another so as to form an X) behind the escutcheon (one key silver and one key gold, tied with a red cord), and above them a silver ''triregnum'' with three gold crowns and red ''infulae'', or the red strips of fabric hanging from the back over the shoulders when worn ("two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or"). The flag most frequently associated with the Pope is the yellow and white flag of Vatican City, with the arms of the Holy See ("Gules, two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or") on the right hand side in the white half of the flag. This flag was first adopted in [[1808]], whereas the previous flag had been red and gold, the traditional colours of the Pontificate.

==Status and authority==
The status and authority of the Pope in the Catholic Church was dogmatically defined by the [[First Vatican Council]] in its Dogmatic Constitution of the Church of Christ ([[July 18]], [[1870]]). The first chapter of this document is entitled "On the institution of the apostolic primacy in blessed Peter", and states that (s.1) "according to the Gospel evidence, a primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church of [[God]] was immediately and directly promised to the blessed apostle Peter and conferred on him by Christ the Lord" and that (s.6) "if anyone says that blessed Peter the [[apostle]] was not appointed by Christ the Lord as prince of all the apostles and visible head of the whole church militant; or that it was a primacy of honour only and not one of true and proper jurisdiction that he directly and immediately received from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself: let him be [[anathema]]."

The Dogmatic Constitution's second chapter, "On the permanence of the primacy of blessed Peter in the Roman pontiffs", states that (s.1) "that which our Lord Jesus Christ [...] established in the blessed apostle Peter [...] must of necessity remain forever, by Christ's authority, in the church which, founded as it is upon a rock, will stand firm until the end of time," that (s.3) "whoever succeeds to the chair of Peter obtains by the institution of Christ Himself, the primacy of Peter over the whole church", and that (s.5) "if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the Lord Himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole church; or that the Roman pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be anathema."

The Dogmatic Constitution's third chapter, "On the power and character of the [[primacy of the Roman pontiff]]," states that (s.1) "the definition of the [[ecumenical council]] of [[Council of Florence|Florence]], which must be believed by all faithful [[Christianity|Christian]]s, namely that the apostolic see and the Roman pontiff hold a world-wide primacy, and that the Roman pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, true vicar of Christ, head of the whole church and father and teacher of all Christian people," that (s.2) "by divine ordinance, the Roman church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other church, and that the jurisdictional power of the Roman pontiff is both episcopal and immediate" and that "[[clergy]] and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity, both singly and collectively, are bound to submit to this power by the duty of [[hierarchy|hierarchical]] subordination and true obedience, and this not only in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the church throughout the world."

The powers of the Pope are defined by the Dogmatic Constitution (ch.3, s.8) such that "he is the supreme judge of the faithful, and that in all cases which fall under ecclesiastical jurisdiction recourse may be had to his judgement" and that "the sentence of the apostolic see (than which there is no higher authority) is not subject to revision by anyone, nor may anyone lawfully pass judgement thereupon" (can. 331 defines the power of the Pope as "supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the Church, and he can always freely exercise this power"). It also dogmatically defined (ch.4, s.9) the doctrine of [[papal infallibility|Papal infallibility]], ''sc.'' such that

:when the Roman Pontiff speaks ''ex cathedra'', that is, when in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church, he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed His church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable.

==Political role==
[[Image:Pjp2c.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|'''Pope John Paul II''' - [[1920]]-[[2005]] (Reign: [[October 16]], [[1978]]-[[April 2]], [[2005]])]]
Though the progressive [[Christianization|Christianisation]] of the [[Roman Empire]] in the [[Fourth century]] did not confer upon bishops civil authority within the state, the gradual withdrawal of imperial authority during the 5th century left the Pope the senior Imperial civilian official in Rome, as bishops were increasingly directing civil affairs in other cities of the Western Empire. This status as a secular and civil leader was vividly displayed by [[Pope Leo I]]'s confrontation with [[Attila]] in 452 and was substantially increased in [[754]], when the [[Franks|Frankish]] ruler [[Pepin the Short]] donated to the Pope a strip of territory which formed the core of the so-called [[Papal States]] (properly the Patrimony of St. Peter). In [[800]], [[Pope Leo III]] crowned the Frankish ruler [[Charlemagne]] as Roman Emperor, a major step toward establishing what later became known as the [[Holy Roman Empire]]; from that date it became the Pope's prerogative to crown the Emperor, a tradition which continued until [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]], the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by the Pope (subsequent Emperors never received coronation), and which was partially revived by [[Napoléon Bonaparte]]. As has been hitherto mentioned, the Pope's sovereignty over the Papal States ended in [[1870]] with their annexation by [[Italy]].

In addition to the Pope's position as a territorial ruler and foremost [[prince bishop]] of Christianity (especially prominent with the [[Renaissance]] Popes like [[Pope Alexander VI]] an ambitious if spectacularly corrupt politico, and [[Pope Julius II]], a formidable general and statesman) and as the spiritual head of the Holy Roman Empire (especially prominent during periods of contention with the Emperors, such as during the Pontificates of [[Pope Gregory VII]] and [[Pope Alexander III]]), the Pope also possessed a degree of political and temporal authority in his capacity as Supreme Pontiff. Some of the most striking examples of Papal political authority are the Bull ''[[Laudabiliter]]'' in [[1155]] (authorising [[Henry II of England]] to invade [[Ireland]]), the Bull ''[[Inter Caeteras]]'' in [[1493]] (leading to the [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] in [[1494]], which divided the world into areas of [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] rule) the Bull ''[[Regnans in Excelsis]]'' in [[1570]] ([[excommunication|excommunicating]] [[Elizabeth I of England]] and purporting to release all her subjects from their allegiance to her), the Bull ''[[Inter Gravissimas]]'' in [[1582]] (establishing the [[Gregorian Calendar]]).

==Death, abdication, and election==
===Death===
The current regulations regarding a Papal [[interregnum]] -- i.e., a ''[[sede vacante]]'' "vacant seat" -- were promulgated by John Paul II in his [[1996]] document ''[[Universi Dominici Gregis]]''. During the ''sede vacante'', the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]], composed of the Pope's principal advisors and assistants, is collectively responsible for the government of the Church and of the Vatican itself, under the direction of the [[Camerlengo|Cardinal Chamberlain]]; however, canon law specifically forbids the Cardinals from introducing any innovation in the government of the Church during the vacancy of the [[Holy See]]. Any decision that needs the assent of the Pope has to wait until a new Pope has been elected and takes office.

It is claimed that the Pope's death is officially determined by the Cardinal Chamberlain by gently tapping the late Pope's head thrice with a silver hammer and calling his birth name three times, though this is disputed and has never been confirmed by the Vatican. A doctor may or may not have already determined that the Pope had passed away. The Cardinal Chamberlain then retrieves the [[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]]. Usually the ring is on the Pope's right hand. But with Paul VI, he had stopped wearing the ring during the last years of his reign, and left it in his desk. In other cases the ring might have been removed for medical reasons. The Chamberlain cuts the ring in two in the presence of the Cardinals. The deceased Pope's seals are defaced, to keep the Pope's seal from ever being used again, and his personal apartment is sealed.

The body then lies in state for a number of days before being interred in the [[crypt]] of a leading church or cathedral; the Popes of the [[Twentieth century]] have all been interred in [[St. Peter's Basilica]]. A nine-day period of mourning (''novem dialis'') follows after the interment of the late Pope.

===[[Papal abdication|Abdication]]===
The Code of [[Canon law|Canon]] Law [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P16.HTM 332 §2] states, ''If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.''

It was widely reported in June and July [[2002]] that the Pope John Paul II firmly refuted the speculation of his resignation using Canon 332, in a letter to the Milan daily newspaper ''Corriere della Sera''.

Nevertheless, 332 §2 gave rise to speculation that either:
* Pope John Paul II would have resigned as his health failed, or
* a properly manifested legal instrument had already been drawn up that put into effect his resignation in the event of his incapacity to perform his duties.
*

As the Pope is considered infallible and God's representative on Earth, it would seem likely that John Paul II never intended to retire, but to act as God's messenger until it was decided otherwise by the Lord.

However, Pope John Paul II did not resign before his death. The Pope died on [[2 April]] [[2005]] after suffering from many diseases and was buried on [[8 April]] [[2005]]. [http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Pope+Dead&btnG=Search+News Articles on the death of John Paul II]

After his death it was revealed in his [[last will and testament]] that he considered abdicating in [[2000]] as he neared his 80th birthday.

===[[Papal election|Election]]===

The Pope was originally chosen by those senior [[clergy]]men resident in and near Rome. In [[1059]], the electorate was restricted to the [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinals]] of the Holy Roman Church, and the individual votes of all Cardinal Electors were made equal in [[1179]]. The Pope is usually a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, but theoretically any male Catholic (including a layman) may be elected; [[Pope Urban VI]], elected [[1378]], was the last Pope who was not already a cardinal at the time of his election. Canon law requires that if a layman or non-bishop is elected, he receives episcopal consecration from the [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] before assuming the Pontificate. Under present canon law, the Pope is elected by the cardinal electors, comprising those cardinals who are under the age of 80.

The [[Second Council of Lyons]] was convened on [[May 7]], [[1274]], to regulate the election of the Pope. This Council decreed that the cardinal electors must meet within ten days of the Pope's death, and that they must remain in seclusion until a Pope has been elected; this was prompted by the three-year ''Sede Vacante'' following the death of [[Pope Clement IV]] in [[1268]]. By the mid-[[Sixteenth century]], the electoral process had more or less evolved into its present form, allowing for alteration in the time between the death of the Pope and the meeting of the cardinal electors.

Traditionally the vote was conducted by acclamation, by selection, by committee, or by plenary vote. Acclamation was the simplest procedure, consisting entirely of a voice vote, and was last used in [[1621]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] abolished vote by acclamation and by selection by committee, and henceforth all Popes will be elected by full vote of the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]] by [[ballot]].

The election of the Pope almost always takes place in the [[Sistine Chapel]], in a meeting called a "[[papal election|conclave]]" (so called because twenty days after the Pope's death, the present cardinal electors are theoretically locked in, ''cum clavi'', until they elect a new Pope). Three cardinals are chosen by lot to collect the votes of absent cardinal electors (by reason of illness), three are chosen by lot to count the votes, and three are chosen by lot to review the count of the votes. The ballots are distributed and each cardinal elector writes the name of his choice on it and pledges aloud that he is voting for "one whom under God I think ought to be elected" before folding and depositing his vote on a plate atop a large chalice placed on the altar. The plate is then used to drop the ballot into the chalice, making it difficult for any elector to insert multiple ballots. Before being read, the number of ballots are counted while still folded; if the total number of ballots does not match the number of electors, the ballots are burned unopened and a new vote is held. Assuming the number of ballots matches the number of electors, each ballot is then read aloud by the presiding Cardinal, who pierces the ballot with a needle and thread, stringing all the ballots together and tying the ends of the thread to ensure accuracy and honesty. Balloting continues until a Pope is elected by a two-thirds majority (since the promulgation of ''Universi Dominici Gregis'' the rules allow for a simple majority after a deadlock of twelve days).
[[Image:John23leo.jpg|right|thumb|216px|[[Pope John XXIII]] wearing the [[Papal Tiara]] following his [[coronation]], a tradition which has now been discontinued.]]

One of the most famous aspects of the papal-election process is the means by which the results of a ballot are announced to the world. Once the ballots are counted and bound together, they are burned in a special oven erected in the Sistine Chapel, with the smoke escaping through a small chimney visible from [[St Peter's Square]]. The ballots from an unsuccessful vote are burned along with a chemical compound in order to produce black smoke, or "fumata nera." (Traditionally wet straw was used to help create the black smoke, but a number of "false alarms" in past conclaves have brought about this concession to modern chemistry.) When a vote is successful, the ballots are burned alone, sending white smoke ("fumata bianca") through the chimney and announcing to the world the election of a new Pope.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals then asks the successfully elected Cardinal two solemn questions. First he asks, "Do you freely accept your election?" If he replies with the word "Accepto," his reign as Pope begins at that instant, not at the coronation ceremony several days afterward. The Dean then asks, "By what name shall you be called?" The new Pope then announces the name he has chosen for himself (starting in [[535]], the Pope has customarily chosen a new name for himself during his Pontificate; the names are not based on any system other than general honorifics, and have been based on immediate predecessors, mentors, and political similarity).

The new Pope is led through the "Door of Tears" to a dressing room in which three sets of white Papal vestments ("immantatio") await: literally small, medium, and large. Donning the appropriate vestments and re-emerging into the Sistine Chapel, the new Pope is given the "[[Ring of the Fisherman|Fisherman's Ring]]" by the Cardinal Camerlengo, whom he either reconfirms or reappoints. The Pope then assumes a place of honor as the rest of the Cardinals wait in turn to offer their first "obedience" ("adoratio"), and to receive his blessing.

The senior cardinal deacon then announces from a balcony over St. Peter's Square the following proclamation: ''Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam!'' ("I announce to you a great joy! We have a Pope!")

Until [[1978]], the Pope's election was followed in a few days by a procession in great pomp and circumstance from the Sistine Chapel to [[St. Peter's Basilica]], with the newly-elected Pope borne in the ''sedia gestatoria''. There the Pope was crowned with the ''[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]'' and he gave his first blessing as Pope, the famous ''[[Urbi et Orbi]]'' ("to the City [Rome] and to the World"). Another famed part of the coronation was the lighting of a torch which would flare brightly and promptly extinguish, with the admonition ''Sic transit gloria mundi'' ("Thus fades worldly glory"). Traditionally, the pope-elect takes the [[Papal oath]] (the so called "Oath against modernism") at his coronation, but [[John Paul I]] and later [[John Paul II]] have refused to do so.

The [[Latin language|Latin]] term ''sede vacante'' ("vacant seat") refers to a papal interregnum, the period between the death of the Pope and the election of his successor. From this term is derived the name [[sedevacantism|Sedevacantist]], which designates a category of dissident, schismatic Catholics who maintain that there is no canonically and legitimately elected Pope, and that there is therefore a ''Sede Vacante''; one of the most common reasons for holding this belief is the idea that the reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and especially the replacement of the [[Tridentine Mass]] with the ''[[Novus Ordo Missae]]'' are heretical, and that, per the dogma of Papal infallibility (see above), it is impossible for a valid Pope to have done these things.

==Objections to the Papacy==
The Pope's position as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church is [[dogma]]tic and therefore not open to debate or dispute within the Catholic Church; the First Vatican Council [[anathema]]tised all who dispute the Pope's primacy of honour and of jurisdiction (it is lawful to discuss the precise nature of that primacy, provided that such discussion does not violate the terms of the Council's Dogmatic Constitution). However, the Pope's authority is not undisputed outside the Catholic Church; these objections differ from denomination to denomination, but can roughly be outlined as (1.) objections to the extent of the primacy of the Pope; and (2.) objections to the institution of the Papacy itself.
[[Image:J23paceminterris.jpg|frame|John XXIII signed his [[encyclical]] ''Pacem in Terris''.]]

Some non-Catholic Christian communities, such as the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Church]], and the [[Anglican Communion]], accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], and therefore accept (to varying extents) the claim that the Pope as successor to [[St. Peter]] is heir to Petrine primacy of honour. These churches deny, however, the claim that the Pope is also heir to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. Because none of them recognise the First Vatican Council as ecumenical, they regard its definitions of Papal jurisdiction and infallibility (and [[anathema]]tisation of those who do not accept them) as non-binding.

Other non-Catholic Christian denominations do not accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], or do not understand it in hierarchical terms, and therefore do not accept the claim that the Pope is heir either to Petrine primacy of honour or to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. The Papacy's complex relationship with the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine Empire]]s, and other secular states, and the Papacy's territorial claims in Italy, are another focal point of these objections; as is the [[monarch]]ical character of the office of Pope. In [[Western Christianity]], these objections — and the vehement rhetoric they have at times been cast in — both contributed to, and are products of, the [[Protestant Reformation]]. These denominations vary from simply not accepting the Pope's authority as legitimate and valid, to believing that the Pope is the [[Antichrist]] or one of the beasts spoken of in the [[Book of Revelation]]. These denominations tend to be more heterogeneous amongst themselves than the aforementioned hierarchical churches, and their views regarding the Papacy and its institutional legitimacy (or lack thereof) vary considerably.

Some objectors to the papacy use empirical arguments, pointing to the corrupt characters of some of the holders of that office. For instance, some argue that claimed successors to [[St. Peter]], like Popes [[Pope Alexander VI|Alexander VI]] and [[Callixtus III]] from the [[Borgia]] family, were so corrupt as to be unfit to wield power to bind and loose on Earth or in Heaven. An omniscient and omnibenevolent God, some argue, would not have given those people the powers claimed for them by the [[Catholic Church]]. Defenders of the papacy argue that the Bible shows God as willingly giving privileges even to corrupt men (citing examples like some of the kings of Israel, the apostle [[Judas Iscariot]], and even St. Peter after he denied Jesus). They also argue that not even the worst of the corrupt popes used the office to try to rip the doctrine of the Church from its apostolic roots, and that this is evidence that the office is divinely protected.

==Other Popes==
An '''[[antipope]]''' is a person who claims the Pontificate without being canonically and properly elected to it. The existence of an antipope is usually due either to doctrinal controversy within the Church, or to confusion as to who is the legitimate Pope at the time (see [[Western Schism|Papal Schism]]).

The head of the [[Jesuit]] Order of Priests has always been called the [[Black Pope]] due to that order of Priests always wearing a long black robe including its leader. (Compared to the Pope always wearing white robes.)

The heads of the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] are also called "Popes" for historical reasons, with the former being called "'''Coptic Pope'''" or "'''Pope of Alexandria'''" and the latter called "'''Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa'''"; the parallel construction "'''Pope of Rome'''" is frequently used in the Eastern churches.

In [[Islam]], the former office of [[Caliph]] held similar meaning, as the leader of all Muslims, subordinate only to the prophet [[Muhammad]].

==See also==
*[[List of popes|Chronological list of popes]]
*[[Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy]]
*[[List of 10 longest-reigning Popes]]
*[[List of 10 shortest-reigning Popes]]
*[[Vestment]]
*[[Immaculate Conception]]
*[[Assumption of Mary|Assumption]]
*[[Ecumenical Council]]
*[[College of Bishops]]
*[[Pontifical University]]
*[[Caesaropapism]]
*[[Investiture Controversy]]
*[[African popes]]
*[[List of French popes]]
*[[German Popes]]

==External links==
'''Roman Catholic Pope'''
*[http://www.vatican.va/ The Holy See]
*[http://www.pope-john-paul.com/ Inside the Vatican: Pope John Paul]
*[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM Code of Canon Law] - Vatican site
*[http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/20ecume3.htm The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ], Fourth Session of the First Vatican Council
*[http://web.globalserve.net/~bumblebee/ecclesia/patriarchs.htm Eastern Church Defends Petrine Primacy and the Papacy]
*[http://thepopeblog.blogspot.com/ The Pope Blog] - Unofficial weblog about the Pope
*[http://breakingnewsblog.com/pope/ Pope Watch] News and Information on the Life and Death of Pope John Paul II
*[http://www.geocities.com/hashanayobel/papalinfo.htm Papal information] News about ongoing Papal Events

'''Coptic Orthodox Pope'''
*[http://www.copticpope.org/ Official website]—The Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and of the See of Saint Mark the Apostle

[[Category:Christian leaders]]
[[Category:Popes| ]]
[[Category:Positions of authority]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church]]

[[als:Papst]]
[[bn:পোপ]]
[[ca:Papa]]
[[da:Pave]]
[[de:Papst]]
[[eo:Papo]]
[[es:Papa]]
[[fi:Paavi]]
[[fr:Pape]]
[[he:אפיפיור]]
[[hu:Pápa (egyházfő)]]
[[id:Paus (Katholik Roma)]]
[[it:Papa]]
[[ja:ローマ教皇]]
[[ko:교황]]
[[la:Papa]]
[[lt:Popiežius]]
[[nl:paus]]
[[no:Pave]]
[[pl:Papież]]
[[pt:Papa]]
[[ro:Papă]]
[[ru:Папство]]
[[sr:Папа]]
[[sk:Pápež]]
[[sl:papež]]
[[sv:Påve]]
[[zh:教宗]]

Benutzer:Alterego

2004-12-19T21:38:27Z

Alterego:

#REDIRECT [[en:User:Alterego|Alterego]]

Papst (Titel)

2004-10-24T22:00:50Z

Alterego: "Christ's representative on earth". I have spent much time at the Vatican Museum and this is a phrase used often.

:''This article is about the term "pope" as it is used in the context of Catholicism. For the English poet, see [[Alexander Pope]]. Another article treats the [[Coptic Pope]]. Also see [[Pope County, Arkansas]]''

----
[[image:20040128-1_v8127-12-cheneypope-515h.jpg|thumb|right|The Pope]]
The '''Pope''' is the [[Catholicism|Catholic]] [[bishop]] and [[patriarch]] of [[Rome]], and ''ex officio'' supreme spiritual leader of what might be called the [[Catholic Communion]] (''viz.'', the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Rite|Eastern Catholic Churches]]; note that the name within the communion is simply "the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church"). In addition to this spiritual role, the Pope is also quasi-[[absolute monarch]] of the independent, sovereign [[Vatican City|State of the Vatican City]], a [[city-state]] entirely surrounded by the city of [[Rome]]. Prior to [[1870]], the Pope's temporal authority extended over a large area of central [[Italy]], a territory formally known as the "Patrimony of St Peter" under the terms of the [[Donation of Constantine]], but more familiar as the [[Papal States]]. The office of the Pope is informally called the [[Papacy]] and formally called the [[Pontificate]]; his ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the [[Holy See]] (''Sancta Sedes''). According to the Vatican Museum's audio introduction to [[Pope John Paul II]], the Pope is "Christ's representative on Earth."

The reigning Pope is [[Pope John Paul II]], who was elected at the age of 58 in [[1978]]. He is the first non-Italian to be elected to the Pontificate since [[Adrian VI]] was briefly pope in 1522-23.

An '''[[antipope]]''' is a person who claims the Pontificate without being canonically and properly elected to it. The existence of an antipope is usually due either to doctrinal controversy within the Church, or to confusion as to who is the legitimate Pope at the time (see [[Western Schism|Papal Schism]]).

The heads of the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] are also called "Popes" for historical reasons, with the former being called "Coptic Pope" or "Pope of Alexandria" and the latter called "Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa"; the parallel construction "Pope of Rome" is uncommon but occasionally used.

''Note: The term 'Catholic Church' is used in this article to refer to the community of churches in full communion with one another and with the Pope. For other meanings of the term, see [[Catholicism]].''

===See also===
[[List of popes|Chronological list of popes]], [[:Category:Popes|Alphabetical list of popes]], [[Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy]]

==Derivation of ''Pope''==

''Pope'' is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''pappas'', "father", and was originally used in an affectionate sense of any priest or bishop (in the exact same way that modern priests are addressed as "Father"). In the [[Fourth century|fourth]] and [[5th century|fifth Centuries]], ''pappas'' ([[Latin language|Latinised]] as ''papa'', a form still preserved in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) was still frequently used of any bishop in the [[West]], although it gradually came to be increasingly restricted to its modern, exclusive use by the Bishop of Rome. In the [[East]], especially in [[Greece]] and [[Russia]], priests are still referred to as ''pappas''.

As early as the [[third century]], the [[Patriarch of Alexandria|Bishop of Alexandria]] exercised a high degree centralised control of suffragan [[Egypt]]ian bishops, in a manner consciously similar to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome; the Alexandrian archbishop was given precedence immediately after the Roman pontiff by the [[Council of Nicaea]], and adopted the title "Pope of Alexandria", which still forms an integral part of the titles of the Greek Orthodox "Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa" and of the Coptic "Pope of Alexandria and of the See of Saint Mark the Apostle".

==Office and nature==

The title "Pope" is an informal one; the formal title of the Pope is "[[Bishop]] of Rome, Vicar of [[Jesus Christ]], Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, [[Servus Servorum Dei|Servant of the Servants of God]]", although this is rarely seen or used in full (by comparison, the formal title of the Orthodox Pope and Patriarch is "Successor of Saint Mark the Apostle, Shepherd of Shepherds, Father of Fathers, Supreme Pontiff of All Metropolitans and Bishops, Judge of the World, and Beloved of Christ", often called the "Ecumenical Judge"; the Coptic Pope is styled "Pope and Patriarch of the See of Alexandria and of All the Predication of the Evangelist St. Mark"). In [[canon law]] he is referred to as the "Roman Pontiff" (''Pontifex Romanus''). The Pope is styled "[[Your Holiness]]" (''Sanctitas Vostra'') and is frequently referred to as "the Holy Father".

The Pope's signature is usually in the format "''NN. PP. x''" (''e.g.'', [[Pope Paul VI]] signed his name as "Paulus PP. VI"), and his name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation "Pont. Max." or "P.M." (abbreviation of the ancient title ''[[Pontifex Maximus]]'', literally "Greatest Bridge-maker", but usually translated "Supreme Pontiff"). The signature of [[Papal bull]]s is customarily ''NN. Episcopus Ecclesia Catholicae'' ("NN. Bishop of the Catholic Church"), while the heading is ''NN. Episcopus [[Servus Servorum Dei]]'' ("NN. Bishop and Servant of the Servants of God"), the latter title dating to the time of [[Pope Gregory I]] ''the Great''. Other titles used in some official capacity include ''Summus Pontifex'' ("Highest Pontiff"), ''Sanctissimus Pater'' and ''Beatissimus Pater'' ("Most Holy Father" and "Most Blessed Father"), ''Sanctissimus Dominus Noster'' ("Our Most Holy Lord"), and, in the [[Middle Ages|Mediaeval period]], ''Dominus Apostolicus'' ("Apostolic Lord").

[[Image:Vatican flag large.png|right|thumb|125px|[[Flag of the Vatican City|Flag]] of the [[Vatican City]]]]

The Pope's official residence is the [[Palace of the Vatican]], and he also possesses a summer palace at [[Castel Gandolfo]] (believed to be situated on the site of the ancient city-state [[Alba Longa]]). Historically the official residence of the Pope was the [[Lateran Palace]], donated by the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantinus I]]. The former Papal summer palace, the [[Quirinal Palace]], has subsequently been the official residence of the [[King of Italy|Kings of Italy]] and [[President of Italy|Presidents of the Italian Republic]].

Contrary to popular belief, it is the Pope's ecclesiastical jurisdiction (the Holy See) and not his secular jurisdiction (Vatican City) which conducts international relations; for hundreds of years, the Pope's court (the [[Roman Curia]]) has functioned as the government of the Catholic Church.
The name "Holy See" (also "Apostolic See") is in ecclesiastical terminology the ordinary jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (including the Roman Curia); the Pope's various honours, powers, and privileges within the Catholic Church and the international community derive from his Episcopate of Rome in lineal succession from the [[Apostle]] [[St. Peter]] (see [[Apostolic Succession]]). Consequently Rome has traditionally occupied a central position in the Catholic Church, although this is not necessarily so. The Pope derives his Pontificate from being Bishop of Rome but is not obligated to reside in Rome; according to the Latin formula ''ubi Papa, ibi Curia'', wherever the Pope resides is the central government of the Church, provided that the Pope is Bishop of Rome. As such, between [[1309]] and [[1378]] the Popes resided not in Rome but in [[Avignon]], a period often called the [[Babylonian Captivity]] in allusion to the [[Bible|Biblical]] exile of [[Israel]] (see [[Avignon Papacy]]).

Catholic [[tradition]] maintains that the institution of the Pontificate can be found in the [[Bible]], and cites certain key passages in support of this contention. Chief among these passages is [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew xvi: 18 – 19]], wherein [[Jesus Christ]] says to [[St. Peter]], "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter ("The Rock" derived from Greek), and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven". Other important passages include [[Gospel of Luke|Luke xx: 31 – 32]], [[Gospel of John|John i: 42]], and [[Gospel of John|John xi: 15 – 17]].

===See also===

[[List of popes|List of Popes]], [[List of 10 longest-reigning Popes]], [[List of 10 shortest-reigning Popes]]

==Regalia and insignia==

The most famous symbol of the Papacy is almost certainly the ''[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]'' (a thrice-crowned hat), also called the "tiara" or "triple crown"; recent Popes have not, however, worn the ''triregnum'' and have instead chosen to wear the episcopal [[mitre]] (an erect cloth hat). Unlike ordinary bishops, the Pope does not bear a [[crozier]] (a bent pastoral staff styled after a shepherd's crook), but rather bears a staff topped by an erect [[crucifix]], a custom established before the [[Thirteenth century]]. The Pope also uses the [[pallium]] (a circular band of fabric about two inches wide, worn over the [[chasuble]] about the neck, breast and shoulders and having two twelve-inch-long pendants hanging down in front and behind, ornamented with six small, black crosses distributed about the breast, back, shoulders, and pendants) at all ecclesiastical functions but not subject to the restrictions imposed upon [[archbishop]]s upon whom the Pope has conferred the right to use the pallium.

Equally famous as the ''triregnum'' and perhaps more important a symbol of the Papacy is the image of two keys, one gold and one silver, in saltire (i.e., crossed over one another so as to form an X), with a red cord tying them together. This represents the "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew xvi: 19]]; ''cf.'' [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah xxii: 22]]) and is in many ways the quintessential symbol of the Papacy as an institution and of its central rôle within the Catholic Church. Jesus's definition of Petrine authority ("whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven") established two jurisdictions (''viz.'', Heaven and Earth); the silver and gold keys are said to represent these two jurisdictions. The silver key symbolises the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven.

[[Image:Vatican coa.png|right|thumb|120px|'''Vatican coat of arms''']]

Another famous part of the Papal regalia is the Fisherman's Ring, a gold ring decorated with a depiction of St. Peter in a boat casting his net, with the name of the reigning Pope around it. The Fisherman's Ring was first mentioned in a letter of [[Pope Clement IV]] to his nephew in [[1265]] wherein he mentions that Popes were accustomed to sealing public documents with leaden "[[Papal bull|bull]]s" attached, and private letters with "the seal of the Fisherman" (by the [[Fifteenth century|XV Century]], the Fisherman's Ring was used to seal [[Papal brief]]s). The Fisherman's Ring is placed on the newly-elected Pope's finger by the [[Camerlengo|Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church]]; on the Pope's death, the Cardinal Chamberlain smashes the Fisherman's Ring with a hammer, symbolising the end of the late Pope's authority.

The ''umbracullum'' (better known in the Italian form ''ombrellino'') is a canopy or umbrella (consisting of alternating red and gold stripes) whose original function was quite simply to provide shade. As it was traditionally a royal prerogative to walk beneath a canopy, [[Pope Alexander VI]] began using the ''umbracullum'' to symbolise the temporal powers of the Papacy; it was formerly carried by a man standing behind the Pope, and features in the [[heraldry|heraldic arms]] of the Cardinal Chamberlain (who governs the Church during a ''Sede Vacante'', a Papal interregnum) and the former arms of the Papal States. The practice of walking with the ''umbracullum'' has been discontinued, although it continues to feature in heraldry and remains the insigne of a [[basilica]], usually displayed to the right of the main altar.

[[Image:Paulcrnd.jpg|left|thumb|300px|'''The Coronation of Pope Paul VI''']]

In heraldry, the Pope's arms are surmounted by the aforementioned two keys in saltire behind the escutcheon (one key silver and one key gold, tied with a red cord), and above them a silver ''triregnum'' with three gold crowns and red ''infulae'', or the red strips of fabric hanging from the back over the shoulders when worn ("two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or"). The flag most frequently associated with the Pope is the yellow and white flag of Vatican City, with the arms of the Holy See ("Gules, two keys in saltire or and argent, interlacing in the rings or, beneath a tiara argent, crowned or") on the right hand side in the white half of the flag. This flag was first adopted in [[1808]], whereas the previous flag had been red and gold, the traditional colours of the Pontificate.

One of the most familiar (and now discontinued) trappings of the Papacy was the ''sedia gestatoria'', a mobile throne or armchair carried by twelve footmen (''palafrenieri'') in red uniforms. Traditionally, the ''sedia gestatoria'' was used in certain solemn occasions of Pontifical ceremony, most especially the procession held shortly after the Pope's election from the [[Sistine Chapel]] to [[St. Peter's Basilica]] where the Pope held his coronation ceremony; the Pope was carried in great pomp and circumstance, accompanied by two attendants bearing large (and largely ceremonial) fans made of white ostrich-feathers (''flabella''). While being carried in the ''sedia gestatoria'' the Pope frequently wore a long cloak or mantle (called a [[cope]]) which flowed from his shoulders over the sides of the throne. The use of the ''sedia gestatoria'' and of the ''flabella'' has been discontinued by [[Pope John Paul II]], with the former being replaced by the so-called [[Popemobile]].

===See also===

[[Vestment]]

==Status and authority==

The status and authority of the Pope in the Catholic Church was dogmatically defined by the [[First Vatican Council]] in its Dogmatic Constitution of the Church of Christ ([[July 18]], [[1870]]). The first chapter of this document is entitled "On the institution of the apostolic primacy in blessed Peter", and states that (s.1) "according to the Gospel evidence, a primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church of [[God]] was immediately and directly promised to the blessed apostle Peter and conferred on him by Christ the lord" and that (s.6) "if anyone says that blessed Peter the [[apostle]] was not appointed by Christ the lord as prince of all the apostles and visible head of the whole church militant; or that it was a primacy of honour only and not one of true and proper jurisdiction that he directly and immediately received from our lord Jesus Christ Himself: let him be [[anathema]]".

The Dogmatic Constitution's second chapter, "On the permanence of the primacy of blessed Peter in the Roman pontiffs", states that (s.1) "that which our lord Jesus Christ [...] established in the blessed apostle Peter [...] must of necessity remain forever, by Christ's authority, in the church which, founded as it is upon a rock, will stand firm until the end of time", that (s.3) "whoever succeeds to the chair of Peter obtains by the institution of Christ Himself, the primacy of Peter over the whole church", and that (s.5) "if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the lord Himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole church; or that the Roman pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be [[anathema]]".

The Dogmatic Constitution's third chapter, "On the power and character of the [[primacy of the Roman pontiff]]", states that (s.1) "the definition of the [[ecumenical council]] of [[Council of Florence|Florence]], which must be believed by all faithful [[Christianity|Christian]]s, namely that the apostolic see and the Roman pontiff hold a world-wide primacy, and that the Roman pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, true vicar of Christ, head of the whole church and father and teacher of all [[Christian]] people", that (s.2) "by divine ordinance, the Roman church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other church, and that the jurisdictional power of the Roman pontiff is both episcopal and immediate" and that "[[clergy]] and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity, both singly and collectively, are bound to submit to this power by the duty of [[hierarchy|hierarchical]] subordination and true obedience, and this not only in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the church throughout the world".

The powers of the Pope are defined by the Dogmatic Constitution (ch.3, s.8) such that "he is the supreme judge of the faithful, and that in all cases which fall under ecclesiastical jurisdiction recourse may be had to his judgement" and that "the sentence of the apostolic see (than which there is no higher authority) is not subject to revision by anyone, nor may anyone lawfully pass judgement thereupon" (can. 331 defines the power of the Pope as "supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the Church, and he can always freely exercise this power"). It also dogmatically defined (ch.4, s.9) the doctrine of [[papal infallibility|Papal infallibility]], ''sc.'' such that

:when the Roman Pontiff speaks ''ex cathedra'', that is, when in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church, he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed His church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable.

===See also===

[[Immaculate Conception]], [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption]], [[Ecumenical Council]], [[College of Bishops]], [[Pontifical University]]

==Political role==

Though the progressive [[Christianization|Christianisation]] of the [[Roman Empire]] in the [[Fourth century]] did not confer upon bishops civil authority within the state, the gradual withdrawal of imperial authority during the 5th century left the Pope the senior Imperial civilian official in Rome, as bishops were increasingly directing civil affairs in other cities of the Western Empire. This status as a secular and civil leader was vividly displayed by [[Pope Leo I]]'s confrontation with [[Attila]] in 452 and was substantially increased in [[754]], when the [[Franks|Frankish]] ruler [[Pepin the Short]] donated to the Pope a strip of territory which formed the core of the so-called [[Papal States]] (properly the Patrimony of St. Peter). In [[800]], [[Pope Leo III]] crowned the Frankish ruler [[Charlemagne]] as Roman Emperor, a major step toward establishing what later became known as the [[Holy Roman Empire]]; from that date it became the Pope's prerogative to crown the Emperor, a tradition which continued until [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]], the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by the Pope (subsequent Emperors never received coronation), and which was partially revived by [[Napoléon Bonaparte]]. As has been hitherto mentioned, the Pope's sovereignty over the Papal States ended in [[1870]] with their annexation by [[Italy]].

In addition to the Pope's position as a territorial ruler and foremost [[prince bishop]] of Christendom (especially prominent with the [[Renaissance]] Popes like [[Pope Alexander VI]] an ambitious if spectacularly corrupt politico, and [[Pope Julius II]], a formidable general and statesman) and as the spiritual head of the Holy Roman Empire (especially prominent during periods of contention with the Emperors, such as during the Pontificates of [[Pope Gregory VII]] and [[Pope Alexander III]]), the Pope also possessed a degree of political and temporal authority in his capacity as Supreme Pontiff. Some of the most striking examples of Papal political authority are the Bull ''[[Laudabiliter]]'' in [[1155]] (authorising [[Henry II of England]] to invade [[Ireland]]), the Bull ''[[Inter Caeteras]]'' in [[1493]] (leading to the [[Treaty of Torsedillas]] in [[1494]], which divided the world into areas of [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] rule) the Bull ''[[Regnans in Excelsis]]'' in [[1570]] ([[excommunication|excommunicating]] [[Elizabeth I of England]] and purporting to release all her subjects from their allegiance to her), the Bull ''[[Inter Gravissimas]]'' in [[1582]] (establishing the [[Gregorian Calendar]]).

===See also===

[[Caesaropapism]], [[Investiture Controversy]]

==Death and election==

The current regulations regarding a Papal [[interregnum]] -- i.e., a ''Sede Vacante'' "vacant see" -- were promulgated by John Paul II in his [[1996]] document ''[[Universi Dominici Gregis]]''. During the ''Sede Vacante'', the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]], composed of the Pope's principal advisors and assistants, is collectively responsible for the government of the Church and of the Vatican itself, under the direction of the [[Camerlengo|Cardinal Chamberlain]]; however, canon law specifically forbids the Cardinals from introducing any innovation in the government of the Church during the vacancy of the Holy See. Any decision that needs the assent of the Pope has to wait until a new Pope has been elected and takes office.

The Pope's death is officially determined by the Cardinal Chamberlain by gently tapping the late Pope's head thrice with a golden hammer and calling his name. A doctor may or may not have already determined that the Pope had passed away. The Cardinal Chamberlain then retrieves the Fisherman's Ring. Usually the ring is on the Pope's right hand. But with Paul VI, he had stopped wearing the ring during the last years of his reign, and left it in his desk. In other cases the ring might have been removed for medical reasons. The Chamberlin cuts the ring in two in the presence of the Cardinals. The deceased Pope's seals are defaced, to keep the Pope's seal from ever being used again, and his personal apartment is sealed.

The body then lies in state for a number of days before being interred in the [[crypt]] of a leading church or cathedral; the Popes of the [[Twentieth century]] have all been interred in [[St. Peter's Basilica]], but it is expected that the reigning Pope, [[Pope John Paul II]], will be interred in his native [[Poland]]. A nine-day period of mourning (''novem dialis'') follows after the interment of the late Pope.

The Pope was originally chosen by those senior [[clergy]]men resident in and near Rome. In [[1059]], the electorate was restricted to the [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinals]] of the Holy Roman Church, and the individual votes of all Cardinal Electors were made equal in [[1179]]. The Pope is usually a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, but theoretically any male Catholic (including a layman) may be elected; [[Pope Urban VI]] was the last Pope who was not already a cardinal at the time of his election. Canon law requires that if a layman or non-bishop is elected, he receives episcopal consecration from the [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] before assuming the Pontificate. Under present canon law, the Pope is elected by the cardinal electors, ''viz.'', those cardinals who are under the age of 80.

The [[Second Council of Lyons]] was convened on [[May 7]], [[1274]], to regulate the election of the Pope. This Council decreed that the cardinal electors must meet within ten days of the Pope's death, and that they must remain in seclusion until a Pope has been elected; this was prompted by the three-year ''Sede Vacante'' following the death of [[Pope Clement IV]] in [[1268]]. By the mid-[[Sixteenth century]], the electoral process had more or less evolved into its present form, allowing for alteration in the time between the death of the Pope and the meeting of the cardinal electors.

Traditionally the vote was conducted by acclamation, by selection by committee, or by plenary vote. Acclamation was the simplest procedure, consisting entirely of a voice vote, and was last used in [[1621]]. The reigning Pope, [[Pope John Paul II]], has abolished vote by acclamation and by selection by committee, and henceforth all Popes will be elected by full vote of the [[College of Cardinals|Sacred College of Cardinals]] by [[ballot]].

The election of the Pope almost always takes place in the [[Sistine Chapel]], in a meeting called a "[[papal election|conclave]]" (so called because twenty days after the Pope's death, the present cardinal electors are theoretically locked in, ''cum clavi'', until they elect a new Pope). Three cardinals are chosen by lot to collect the votes of absent cardinal electors (by reason of illness), three are chosen by lot to count the votes, and three are chosen by lot to review the count of the votes. The ballots are distributed and each cardinal elector writes the name of his choice on it and pledges aloud that he is voting for "one whom under God I think ought to be elected" before depositing his vote. Balloting continues until a Pope is elected by two-third majority (since the promulgation of ''Universi Dominici Gregis'' the rules allow for a simple majority after a deadlock of twelve days).

One of the most famous parts of the conclave is the means by which the results of a ballot are announced to the world. Once the ballots are counted, they are burned, and the smoke indicates the results: black smoke (''sfumata''), created using straw with the ballots, announces that the vote was not decisive, and white smoke announces the election of a new Pope. The Dean of the College of Cardinals asks the Pope-elect to confirm his acceptance, and then announces the name he has chosen for himself (starting in [[535]], the Pope has customarily chosen a new name for himself during his Pontificate). The senior cardinal deacon then announces from a balcony over St. Peter's Square the following proclamation: ''Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam!'' ("I announce to you a great joy! We have a Pope!")

Until [[1978]], the Pope's election was followed in a few days by a procession in great pomp and circumstance from the Sistine Chapel to [[St. Peter's Basilica]], with the newly-elected Pope borne in the ''sedia gestatoria''. There the Pope was crowned with the ''[[Papal Tiara|triregnum]]'' and he gave his first blessing as Pope, the famous ''Urbi et Orbi'' ("to the City [Rome] and to the World"). Another famed part of the coronation was the lighting of a torch which would flare brightly and promptly extinguish, with the admonition ''Sic transit gloria mundi'' ("Thus fades worldly glory"). Traditionally, the pope-elect takes the [[Papal oath]] (the so called "Oath against modernism") at his coronation, but [[John Paul I]] and later [[John Paul II]] have refused to do so.

As has been hitherto noted, the [[Latin language|Latin]] term ''Sede Vacante'' ("vacant seat") refers to a Papal interregnum, or the period between the death of the Pope and the election of his successor. From this term is derived the name [[sedevacantism|Sedevacantist]], which designates a category of dissident, schismatic Catholics who maintain that there is no canonically and legitimately elected Pope, and that there is therefore a ''Sede Vacante''; one of the most common reasons for holding this belief is the idea that the reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and especially the replacement of the [[Tridentine Mass]] with the ''[[Novus Ordo Missae]]'' are heretical, and that, per the dogma of Papal infallibility (see above), it is impossible for a valid Pope to have done these things.

See also: [[papal abdication]].

==Objections to the Papacy==

The Pope's position as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church is [[dogma]]tic and therefore not open to debate or dispute within the Catholic Church; the First Vatican Council [[anathema]]tised all who dispute the Pope's primacy of honour and of jurisdiction (it is lawful to discuss the precise nature of that primacy, provided that such discussion does not violate the terms of the Council's Dogmatic Constitution). However, the Pope's authority is not undisputed outside the Catholic Church; these objections differ from denomination to denomination, but can roughly be outlined as (1.) objections to the extent of the primacy of the Pope; and (2.) objections to the institution of the Papacy itself.
[[Image:J23paceminterris.jpg|right|thumb|250px|'''Blessed John XXIII''' signing his [[encyclical]] ''Pacem in Terris'']]

Some non-Catholic Christian denominations, such as the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Church]], and the [[Anglican Communion]], accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], and therefore accept (to varying extents) the claim that the Pope as successor to [[St. Peter]] is heir to Petrine primacy of honour. These churches deny, however, the claim that the Pope is also heir to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. Because none of these denominations recognise the First Vatican Council as ecumenical, they regard its definitions of Papal jurisdiction and infallibility (and [[anathema]]tisation of those who do not accept them) as non-binding.

Other non-Catholic Christian denominations do not accept the doctrine of [[Apostolic Succession]], or do not understand it in hierarchical terms, and therefore do not accept the claim that the Pope is heir either to Petrine primacy of honour or to Petrine primacy of jurisdiction. The Papacy's complex relationship with the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine Empire]]s, and other secular states, and the Papacy's territorial claims in Italy, are another focal point of these objections; as is the [[monarch]]ical character of the office of Pope. In [[Western Christianity]], these objections — and the vehement rhetoric they have at times been cast in — are products of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. These denominations vary from simply not accepting the Pope's authority as legitimate and valid, to believing that the Pope is the [[Antichrist]] or one of the beasts spoken of in the [[Book of Revelation]]. These denominations tend to be more heterogeneous amongst themselves than the aforementioned hierarchical churches, and their views regarding the Papacy and its institutional legitimacy (or lack thereof) vary considerably.

Some objectors to the papacy use empirical arguments, pointing to the corrupt characters of some of the holders of that office. For instance, some argue that
claimed successors to [[St. Peter]], like the [[Pope Alexander VI]] and [[Callixtus III]] from the [[Borgia]] family, were so corrupt as to be unfit to wield power to bind and loose on Earth or in Heaven. An omniscient and omnibenevolent God, some argue, would not have given those people the powers claimed for them by the [[Catholic Church]]. Defenders of the papacy argue that the Bible shows God as willingly giving privileges even to corrupt men (citing examples like some of the kings of Israel, the apostle [[Judas Iscariot]], and even St. Peter after he denied Jesus). They also argue that not even the worst of the corrupt popes used the office to try to rip the doctrine of the Church from its apostolic roots, and that this is evidence that the office is divinely protected.

==External links==

===Links relating to the Roman Catholic Pope===
*[http://www.vatican.va/ The Holy See]
*[http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/20ecume3.htm The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ], Fourth Session of the First Vatican Council
*[http://www.intratext.com/X/ENG0017.htm The Code of Canon Law]
*[http://web.globalserve.net/~bumblebee/ecclesia/patriarchs.htm Eastern Church Defends Petrine Primacy and the Papacy]

===Links relating to Coptic Orthodox Pope===
*[http://www.copticpope.org/ The Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and of the See of Saint Mark the Apostle]

===Links relating to the Eastern Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and All Africa===

* [http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/main.htm His Beatitude Petros VII Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa]
* [http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org Greek Orthodox Partriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa]

[[Category:Christian leaders]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church]] [[Category:Positions of authority]]

[[ca:Papa]]
[[da:Pave]]
[[de:Papst]]
[[eo:Papo]]
[[es:Papa]]
[[fi:Paavi]]
[[fr:Pape]]
[[it:Papa]]
[[ja:ローマ教皇]]
[[nl:paus]]
[[no:Pave]]
[[pl:Papież]]
[[pt:Papa]]
[[ro:Papă]]
[[ru:Папство]]
[[sl:papež]]
[[sv:Påve]]
[[zh:教宗]]