0
Popes
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Pope is also head of state of the Vatican City, a sovereign city-state entirely enclaved by Rome.
2,799 Questions
What is the holy name of the twelve popes?
There have been 12 popes who have taken Pius as their name.
Why did Gregory VII and the German Emperor Henry IV fight?
A:
Pope Gregory VII wanted total mastery, both spiritual and secular, over Europe. He claimed supremacy over the secular authorities, with supreme legislative and judicial power, and the right to depose all princes and to have all Christians as his subjects. He also claimed what was then another innovation - the sole right to appoint bishops, with a council held in the Lateran in 1075 decreeing that the pope alone could appoint or depose churchmen or move them from see to see.
In 1074, Gregory wrote to Emperor Henry IV reproaching him for his conduct and telling him that like everybody else, he was bound to obey papal decrees. If Henry did not, he would have to suffer the consequences. Henry, furious at such insolence, summoned at Worms a synod of German bishops, who were themselves smarting under Gregory's dictates. The synod denounced Gregory as a usurper of the papacy and accused him of perjury, immorality of various kinds, and abuses of papal authority in the dioceses of Germany. It pronounced Gregory deposed, a sentence confirmed by bishops of Lombardy.
A few weeks later, Gregory held a synod in Rome, that excommunicated Henry and all the bishops who had sided with him, released Henry's vassals from their oath of fealty, and declared him deposed. Henry, placed on the defensive and with his throne endangered, had to agree to allow Gregory to come to Augsburg in Germany to settle the affair. Gregory accepted the invitation, set out but had difficulty getting through Lombardy because of the strong sentiment against him. Finding his passage to Germany blocked by the Lombards, Gregory accepted Henry's plea for forgiveness at Canossa, and Henry was able to return and present to his subjects his absolution as the definitive settlement of the affair.
Now feeling secure in Germany, Henry marched into Italy with his troops in 1081 and laid siege to Rome. In desperation Gregory appealed to the Normans. Henry's forces withdrew, without giving battle. The Normans had freed the city from the emperor but then looted and burnt at least a third of it. The result was one the worst sacks in the history of Rome, for which the Romans held Gregory responsible. He managed to get out of the city unscathed, though cursed, and made his way to Salerno where the Normans ensured his safety.
Gregory died in exile, defeated and powerless. He had achieved none of his main objectives, but brought about his own ruin. John W. O'Malley S.J. (A History of the Popes) says that no pope ever died hated by more people than Gregory VII.
Popes are considered as the supreme religious leaders by Christians around the world due to their age long worship and piousness, that's why they hold great powers.
Why is the leader of the Catholic Church named Pope?
The word "pontiff" comes from the Ancient Romans who used "Pontifex" as a distinguished title of Roman magistrates whose sacred office was concerned with the construction, maintenance and deconstruction of bridges. The emperor himself was called the "Pontifiex maximus". Pontifex is derived from the Latin "pons" and "facere" or "to make bridge" or "bridge builder" as it was seen as an supernatural power to bridge impassible spans of water, thereby connecting lands. Over time, and with the advent of the Catholic Church, the title "Pontifex Maximus" was given to the pope, as he was the supreme bridge builder between God and man, acting as Christ's intermediary. In English, Pontifex is changed to pontiff.
According to Wikipedia: in 1095 the Crusades were launched. These were a series of military campaigns (in Israel and elsewhere, initiated in response to pleas from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I to halt Turkish expansion. The Crusades ultimately failed to stifle Islamic aggression and contributed to enmity between Islam and Christians; with the dismissal of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. In 1184, following the crusade against Cather heresy (the Cathars were a direct challenge to the Catholic Church, renouncing Catholic practices and dismissing it outright as Satanism), and against various other institutions; the Church continued to try to enforce itself in what is called 'the Inquisition', with the aim of suppressing heresy and securing religious and doctrinal unity within Christianity through prosecution or conversion.
Modern Christianity does not necessarily approve of the draconian measures the Church employed in ancient times. Although an integral part of practicing Christianity is to proselytize and attempt conversion (during his ministry, Jesus taught 'Be ye fishers of men'), it is now done in much more gentle ways through missionary or evangelistic means.
Has there ever been a pope who was not a cardinal?
Pope Urban VI, pope from 1378 to 1389, was the last non-cardinal to be elected as pope. Since the conclave method of electing a pope began there have been 6 non-cardinals elected . Actually, the election of Pope Celestine V was the last non-conclave election and Celestine V was a priest who was elected to end a stalemate that had gone on for over 2 years. He did not want the position and resigned a few months later. Prior to the conclave method of electing a pope there were a number of non-cardinal popes.
Pope Leo XIII commonly known as Pope Leo the 13th who served as pope from February 20, 1878 to July 20, 1903.
Is a patriarch more powerful than a pope?
The Pope - although he himself is a bishop, though as bishop of Rome he also has the papal authority and powers proper to the Roman see. There is a modern idea that has gained strength among some members of the Church that the college of bishops, if united, are more powerful than the pope and can make decisions to which the pope must acquiesce. This is called "collegiality" and is incorrect; the pope is subject to none in the exercise of jurisdiction and ecclesiastical power and he can supercede the combined judgment of every bishop of the Church when exercising his papal office.
How long does a pope have on the throne?
In almost all cases, Popes serve for the rest of their lives once they are elected to the papacy. Pope Benedict XVI recently retired, but he is the first Pope in 600 years to retire. Usually a Pope will die in office.
With the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II in April of 2014, there have been about 80 popes that carry the title of Saint. Many of the earliest popes were declared to be saints by the early Christian Community and were never formally canonized as the official process was not put into place until about the 11th century.
Who is in charge after the pope?
There is no 'vice pope' if that is what you are referring to in your question. The pope, alone, is in charge. Should the pope die, during the interregnum before a new pope is elected, the camarlengo has the responsibility for the day to day management of the Church but can make no major decisions. His main responsibility during that time is to arrange the burial of the pope and plan the upcoming papal conclave. Until a successor Pope can be elected, the Camerlengo serves as the Vatican City's acting head of state. He is not, however, currently responsible for the government of the Catholic Church during a sede vacante. On December 20, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran as Camerlengo, succeeding Cardinal Bertone.
Why did Pope Urban II call the First Crusade a 'just war'?
The pope thought a crusade would unite Europeans against a common enemy.
Roman Catholic AnswerSt. Thomas Aquinas defined a just war:- First, war must occur for a good and just purpose rather than for self-gain or as an exercise of power.
- Second, just war must be waged by a properly instituted authority such as the state.
- Third, peace must be a central motive even in the midst of violence
The First Crusade was to rescue the surviving Christians who were living under cruel oppresion by the Muslims in the Holy Land, and to make that land safe again for travelers going on pilgrimages. The fate of the Christians under Muslim rule is hard to fathom by modern minds. For a more complete discussion of this period, please read Seven Lies About Catholic History by Diane Moczar at the link below.
Who is the pope for the Orthodox Church?
Only the Roman Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church use the term 'pope' for their leaders. Other Orthodox Churches, including the Greek Orthodox, use the term Patriarch.
The present Coptic pope is Pope Tawadros II.
What did Urban II initiate at the Council of Clermont?
He called for the initiation of a Crusade to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims.
How did the Pope influence society?
Church helps you believe that Jesus Christ really exist which makes you think that Jesus is constantly watching you. So it doesnt make you as sin as much and it helps you understand why you should live a good life without regrets and pain.
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, it follows Him in all things. Our Blessed Lord only influenced the people who listened, who followed Him, who let their minds be opened to God. As God gave us free will, He absolutely will not trespass, which is why He is known as that "still, small voice". Thus, first, the Church only influenced people who were believers, and were willing to listen, were willing to be influenced. The primary way in which the church influences people is through grace. Grace comes from God and is distributed primarily through the sacraments. God, through His Church, guided (and still guides today) people through their entire lives, from their birth when the priest is there to baptize until their death when the priest gives the Last Rites, and then buries the body. Thus the Church influenced people through the Love of God as He loves and guides His people through their lives to an eternity of happiness with Him in Heaven.How old does a cardinal have to be to elect a pope?
Today a cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope.
The term cardinal (Cardinalis) was originally understood to include every priest permanently attached to a church, every clericus, either intitulatus or incardinatusT. I.e. the term "cardinal" at one time applied to any priest permanently assigned or incardinated to a church, or specifically to the senior priest of an important church, based on the Latin cardo (hinge), meaning "principal" or "chief".
This early usage began around the fifth century.
The pope is a title given to the bishop of Rome, although at certain times in the Middle Ages he did not actually reside in Rome. The Catholic Church teaches that the apostle Peter visited Rome in the middle of the first century, and led the church of Rome, and thus became the first pope. Depending on the truth of this tradition, Peter, who was a Jew, was also a pope.
However, Francis A. Sullivan SJ (From Apostles to Bishops) says that the Catholic position remains far from easy to establish. This is an acknowledgement that even if Peter did visit Rome, he does not appear to have led the church there, nor appointed a bishop to succeed him. Sullivan says that most scholars are of the opinion that, in spite of Church tradition, the church of Rome was led by a group of presbyters, and that bishops were not appointed to the church in Rome until around the middle of the second century. This makes it unlikely that Peter was ever really the bishop of Rome, although he might have led the Christian Church in Jerusalem or elsewhere.
For more information, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/catholicism/a-brief-history-of-the-early-popes
Why are the crossed keys symbolic of the pope?
When Our Lord appointed Peter as the first leader of His Church, he told him:
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." ~ Matthew 16:19
The keys continue to be symbolic of the papacy today.
What does the pope lead the church in?
Catholic Answer
The Holy Father doesn't lead any branch of Christianity for the simple reason that Christianity as established by Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, cannot have any "branches". Our Blessed Lord was very emphatic in establishing only one Church, which He founded on the Apostle Peter (and his successors-the Popes), read St. Matthew 16:17-19. The Christian Church is commonly called the Catholic Church. "Branches" of Christianity are actually denominations from a heresy called protestantism formed in the sixteenth century, which have appropriated the word "Christian" to themselves, which is where the confusion comes in.
How much did Pope John XXIII weigh?
Blessed Pope John XXIII was rather a short, overweight man, but we have no idea how much he weighed. Unlike the modern press in a democracy like the United States, or even a monarchy like the United Kingdom, the Vatican press corps does not report on such trivia as personal matters of the supreme Pontiff.
How long does it take to become a Pope?
The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals who meet ten days after the previous pope dies. Recent elections have taken several ballots at the rate of four a day. It normally takes a career as priest, bishop and cardinal before you have a chance to be elected pope. Recent popes have been between 60 and 80 years old (roughly) when they were elected.
