0
The pope derives his power from an unbroken succession of the line of bishops begining with Jesus telling Peter you are the rock upon which I build my church throughout history to today and Pope Benedict XVI.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoYour question is a difficult one. For the sake of this answer, I will assume that you are questioning whether or not the Pope could influence international politics.
First off, it is important to know that the Vatican City is its own sovereign nation. It is inside the city of Rome, Italy. It's government is essentially the Pope. Vatican City has about 100 embassies worldwide. It has roughly 900 citizens. Although its defense, infrastructure, and resource production is the responsibility of Italy, it retains sovereignty within its territorial boundaries.
Now that that's established, let's answer your question. The Roman Catholic Church boasts about 1 billion followers worldwide. That's a lot of people. The entire current human population is about 7 billion, so the Vatican holds sway over roughly a seventh of the human species. Religion is by definition seeped into the minds of its followers, and if the institution that was allegedly established by God on earth issues a political statement, one billion people will seriously take their ideas into account. If the Pope openly favored a particular candidate (lets say for the case of this question, Hillary Clinton in 2016) in a U.S. election, many Catholics in the U.S. would seriously consider their indiviudla pick. The extent of their influence depends solely on the loyalty of their followers. Vatican City has no economy (except for museum entrance fees), no army, and no clearly defined view on most international political situations.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe power of the Pope is built on fear. If you do not believe he has power, he has none over you.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNot to much in the modern age; however centuries before they could get kings to do anything they want by threatening to exocommunicate entire areas.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe Pope has no power over the Orthodox Church. There are 7 Patriarchs, who are equivalent to a Pope.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How did Napoleon symbolically reduce the power of the pope in Europe?
pope was cool
Who had the most power in the middle ages?
The Pope did! Many people think the Lords did, but they didn't.
Why was Napoleons crowning significant?
Napoleon's crowning was significant because it showed that he had more power than the pope and the church. Napoleon took the crown from the Pope's hands and put it on himself. He did this to declare his power.
Where did the real Power lie in medieval Europe's social structure?
With the pope but some power went to the counts as well.
The power struggle between popes and kings?
In the past, such as the Middle Ages, the pope had immense power. This was because nearly everyone went to church back then (namely the Catholic church, which the pope belongs to), thereby giving the pope extreme power. (Hence the common corruption/misuse of power when it came to the popes-- though that is a matter of opinion.) Due to being at the head of such power, the pope acted as someone of, well, power. However, they weren't supposed to be the head of the power. The king(s) was. And so a power struggle is what ensued, with the Church (pope) wanting or possessing power that, by law, belonged to the king. And, of course, the pope held power over the church people, complicating the problem. This power struggle shows what it means to have a separation between church and state, and to have a lack of one. An example of this power struggle is with Pope Leo III and Charlemagne. Read about it at the link below. Remember to read Part II to get the whole picture.
Which pope is in power 2009?
Pope Benedict XVI was in power in 2009.
How much power did kings have under feudalism?
The Pope had more power than the kings in that time.
How did Napoleon symbolically reduce the power of the pope in Europe?
pope was cool
Who had the most power the pope or the king?
Pope he told the king what to do and could excommunicate him.
What are the powers of the pope?
The Pope has the power to appoint bishops, to pass papal decrees and to guide the teachings of the Catholic faith. Though the Pope is said to have supreme power, he still refers to God.
How did the First Crusade benefit both the pope and the Church?
When the pope took power and led the army of soldiers, women, and elderly, it made it seem like the pope had plenty of power of everything. Not only that, it also expanded the power in the church.
What power did the pope have in Medieval Times?
The Medieval Times brought along a new strategy of organization. Power came with the land you owned. The king or queen, however, didn't have much power. He was just a person to look to in times of trouble. The Pope pretty much had all the power. The Church was what unified Medieval Europe, so people looked to the Pope to solve their problems. The power of the Clergy increased a lot during those times.
How was the holy roman emperor power limited?
The Roman emperor had to answer to the pope.
Who had the power in most European states?
the pope
Who strengthen the power of the papacy?
pope Gregory
Who had the most power in the middle ages?
The Pope did! Many people think the Lords did, but they didn't.
How did Pope Benedict come into power?
In April of 2005 he was elected as pope by the College of Cardinals in a conclave to replace Pope John Paul II.
