Popes

Yes, as long as he is a baptized Catholic who agrees to become a priest and then a bishop.

Avignon, France, is sometimes referred to as the "City of Popes" because of the presence of popes and anti-popes from 1309 to 1423 during the Catholic schism.

Yes, there have been popes who served while their parents were still alive. It is difficult to say with many of the ancient popes as little is written about their lives. One pope in particular, the notorious Benedict IX, was only about 18 years old at the time his father purchased the papacy for him.

emporer Henry IV

yes

There have been 6 popes named Sixtus.

Pope John Paul II beatified 1,340 people and canonized 483 saints.

Himself. Unfortunately, the title on the popes headdress is Latin for "The one who stands in the place of Jesus" which is blasphemous. He does NOT stand in place of Jesus - nobody does! Therefore he must think himself equal or more to Jesus. In reality, one cannot know the pope's subjective dispositions, although it is hoped he would love with his whole heart, mind and soul the God whom he has dedicated his life to and whose priesthood he bears. In its official capacity, the papal office most certainly exists as a testament to the love of Jesus, for it was Jesus Who initiated it, and it exists that people may have Christ's teachings available that they may better come to the knowledge and love of Jesus themselves.

The original answer given to this question is the atypical urban legend concerning alleged writing on one of the papal tiaras (above referred to as "headdress"). Though attributed to the Seventh Day Adventists as its source, many Protestant sects quickly championed it when the tiara was still in use. The alleged words in question are, "Vicarius Filii Dei" which is translated as "Vicar of the Son of God", not "the one who stands in the place of Christ" as given above, although that rendition was probably a natural corruption of the legend throughout the years. The myth further asserts that the numerical value of the Latin letters is 666, which have traditionally been regarded as satanic and thus, some further insist, the pope is openly the anti-Christ spoken of in the book of Revelation. "Vicarius Filii Dei" not only fails to appear on any papal tiara, but is not even a proper title for one in the papal office, although an apocryphal document exists calling St. Peter such in the time of Constantine. Witnesses to the rumor claim pope Gregory XVI wore a tiara with this inscription during Mass in 1832 and 1845 and even insist that a photograph of the pope wearing it at a funeral exists. Also, it is claimed Pius XII was crowned with this same tiara in 1939. Historically and liturgically these claims have been proved as fallacious. The tiara is not a liturgical vestment, and so would never be present at a Mass or funeral or any Church liturgy in the first place. The alleged photograph has never been produced, and even if it did exist, a 19th century photography would be too primitive to zoom in on writing or to take a clear picture inside a church, which are notoriously ill lit. Puis XII could never have been crowned with the same tiara as pope Gregory XVI, as the one he was crowned with was made over thirty years after Gregory had died. Any tiaras Gregory may have worn are still in existence, and not only are they free of the alleged motto, none even have writing on them. Some cry that there has been a cover-up, but all tiaras made since 1800 still exist and are accounted for, not to mention that they are on public display. Of them, only a couple have writing, and these are dedication verses. The legend is a fairly standard anti-Catholic myth that is largely unsupported today even by rabid anti-Catholic proponents. Even if the myth could present reasonable doubt, it would have been bizarre for a pope to openly wear something indicating he was a fraud and bent upon destroying Christendom. Further, since the tiara has not been worn since 1969, what might have been written on a tiara decades ago has no bearing on the present pope's disposition towards Jesus.

No, there has never been a Pope from Ireland.

Pope Urban II launched the first crusade in 1095

Sylvester is an old name with Latin origins. The Latin word silvestri where it is derived from means wooded, while the full name Sylvester means woodland.

The current pope, Francis, is from Argentina. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, was German. Pope John Paul II was Polish.

In the digital age, it makes sense for The Pope to reach out to people via new mediums. The Pope does have a computer, and he uses it. Recently, he wrote a book on his computer.

He excommunicated them, then sent them on a pilgrimage for 14 years to the Holy Land.

Pope Pius X

For a complete current list of cardinal electors click here.

Catholic Answer:
Normally the pope would reside in the Papal Apartments of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The Palace, itself, is lavishly decorated with great artworks as well it should be. It is the Vatican equivalent of Buckingham Palace or the White House. It is here that the Holy Father meets with religious and political leaders from around the world. The actual Papal Apartments, however, are rather spartan and utilitarian. Pope Francis has decided to live in an even smaller apartment in the Casa Santa Marta, a guest house where clergy with business in the Vatican stay during visits and where the cardinals live during a conclave. He is the first pope in about 100 years who has not chosen to live in the Papal Apartments. His apartment might rank as a room in a 2 star hotel with a 5 star being the best. The apartment is clean and comfortable but far from lavish. One needs to remember that, unlike his predecessors, Francis is a member of a religious order (Jesuit) who took a vow of poverty. As Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires he also chose to live in a small apartment and not in the Bishop's residence. For an image of the bedroom of Pope Francis click here.

Pope Julius II was pope from October 31, 1503, until February 21, 1513.

An encyclical

The term "catholic" is claimed by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Roman Catholic Church includes all the Churches that accept the authority of the pope in Rome, including certain Eastern Churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the authority of the pope in Rome.

The pope is the spiritual leader of all Christians. However, the Protestants and Orthodox do not recognize that leadership.

St. Catherine of Sienna

famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII. The Walk to Canossa is sometimes used as a symbol of the changing relationship between the medieval Church and State.

It is the name given to the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome,