What is a Catholic pope?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as the "Vatican Catholic Church." The current head of the Roman Catholic Church is Pope Benedict XVI (since April 2005).

Update:

As of March 13, 2013, Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church.

Answer 2

Catholic Answer

The Pope is the Holy Father in Rome. He is a successor of St. Peter, appointed by Our Blessed Lord, Himself, in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 16, verses 17-19. Please note that Our Blessed Lord, Himself, not only appointed St. Peter and his successors to this office, but personally guaranteed both his power to bind and loose, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful." (Lumen Gentium 23) "For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercises unhindered." (Lumen Gentium 22; cf. Christus Dominus 2,9)

Answer 3

Although "pope" means 'father' and once applied to all bishops and probably other clergy (as deacons and priests are called "Father" today), since the 11th century the title has been reserved in the Catholic Church to the bishop of Rome.

The current bishop of Rome is Pope Francis.

The bishop emeritus of Rome is Pope Benedict XVI.

Answer 4

Catholic AnswerPlease see the Catholic Encyclopedia article below. The Holy Father (the Pope) is the successor to St. Peter on whom Our Blessed Lord founded His Church (see St. Matthew's Gospel 16:17-19). Every single Pope since then is considered St. Peter's successor, NOT the successor of the previous Pope. The Holy Father's favorite title is "Servant of the servants of God". He is the Bishop of Rome, St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is built over the tomb of St. Peter. You may still see it today if you go to St. Peter's in Rome, his tomb is directly under the high altar. The Holy Father is considered infallible when ruling in matters of faith and morals, if he is speaking ex cathedra (from the chair [of St. Peter]) and speaking to the entire Church. Outside of those very limited circumstances, he is just like any other Bishop, although, since he is the Holy Father, and St. Peter's successor, his opinion usually carries more weight then any other Bishop. The Pope is the visible head of the Church, his authority is supreme, and he is a daily reminder of Our Lord's special Love and Attention for His Church, and a daily reminder that when He promised to be with us until the end of the world, we know that He is.

Answer 5

Pope Francis is the current (2014) pope. He was elected on March 13, 2013.

Answer 6

At the present it is Pope Francis.