Papacy

In brief: The Pope is the Catholic bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to this spiritual role, the Pope is also head of the independent, sovereign State of the Vatican City, a city-state entirely surrounded by the city of Rome. 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 Jesus' representative on Earth. The current Pope is Benedict XVI.

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Introductions to the Papacy (including overviews of history, doctrine and opinions regarding the papacy)

Choosing a new Pope

Role of the Pope

History of the Papacy

Specific Popes

Peter and the Papacy

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See also

• Pope John Paul II
• Pope Benedict XVI

News reports

• Catholic World Youth Day 2005: One million attend open-air mass with Pope
• Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger selected as the new Pope (April 19)
• The pope undergoes a tracheotomy due to worsening respiratory failure secondary to the "flu"
• Pope John Paul II dies (April 2, 2005)

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