What is the position of the pope in the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

He is the Head of the Catholic Church. Roman Catholics do not recognise any other form of Christianity as legitimate except their own, and believe that only Catholics can be sure of salvation in the afterlife. They thus see the Pope as the most important living person on Earth, who acts as an intermediary between God and humanity.

Answer 2

The pope is the bishop of Rome and successor of Peter (and Paul). As such, he is the "perpetual and visible source and foundation of unity" both of the college of bishops and the whole Church. (cf. Lumen Gentium 23, CCC 882)

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The faithful, including the pope, are the body.

As bishop of Rome, the pope is also, ex officio:

• metropolitan archbishop of the Roman province
• primate of Italy
• sovereign of the Vatican City State
• vicar of Jesus Christ (as are all bishops, cf. LG27)

The pope is also officially titled Servant of the Servants of God, as exemplar of diakonia (servant-leadership) that is required by Christ of all who would lead in His Church (cf. John 13). [see discussion page]

De facto, the pope is patriarch of the Latin Church. The title "patriarch of the West" was removed from the list of official titles in 2006, but his role and responsibility as head of a Church sui iuris remains.

Other Catholic Answers:

It's just Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the official Catholic Church.

The role of the Pope in the Catholic Church, 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 exercise unhindered." (Lumen Gentium 22; cf. Christus Dominus 2, 9) It is based, in The Bible, on the stewards of the vicars of the Jewish Davidic Kings. This is what Jesus is referring to when he confers the "keys" on Peter. This was an office, and the Vicar who held the keys held the power of the King. Jesus appoints Peter, and thus his successors, as His Vicars on earth. They are the "servant of the servants of God" from an ancient title of the Holy Father. His role is to lead the people to God, and to rule Christ's Church. This is the role appointed him by God, as we read in the Scriptures.

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

880 When Christ instituted the Twelve, "he constituted [them] in the form of a college or permanent assembly, a the head of which he placed Peter, chosen from among them." (Lumen gentium 19; cf Lk 6:13; Jn21:15-17) Just as "by the Lord's institution, St. Peter and the rest of the apostles constitute a single apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are related with and united to one another." (Lumen gentium 22; cf. Codex Iuris Canonici, can 330.)

881 The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. (Cf. Mt16:18-10; Jn 21:15-17.) "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head." (Lumen gentium 22 section 2) This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.

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 exercise unhindered. (Lumen gentium 22; cf. Christus Dominus 2, 9.)

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Pope, Authority of the. Although elected by the college of cardinals, the pope's authority is not derived from them, but is given to God directly. He exercises it de iure divino (by divine right) as successor of St. Peter. He is infallible in teaching, and he has full and supremem power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, and directly and immediately over every Catholic, and all this in virtue of his office and permanently.

Answer 3

The role of the Pope is to be the Vicar of Christ, Successor to St. Peter, and servant of the servants of God, see St. Matthew 16:17-19 and the last half of Isaiah chapter 22.

St. Matthew 16:17-19:

And Jesus answering, said to him [Peter]: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Answer 4

He is the HBIC. Otherwise known as the principal of the Catholic cult religion

Answer 5

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth.

Answer 6

The pope is the vicar of Christ on earth - the earthly leader of the Church.