The historic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines from January 15 to 17, 2015 was also a milestone for the Rodrigos and the Roas. As early as September 2014, I had already been called by the ... The pope[a] is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

Understanding the Context

He is also known as the supreme pontiff, [b] Roman pontiff, [c] or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the much smaller Vatican City State. [4][5] From a Catholic viewpoint, the primacy of the bishop of Rome is ... Pope is the title given to the bishop of Rome, who is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Key Insights

The title dates to about the 9th century CE. The pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter and has supreme power of jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. Pope | Catholicism, Definition, Title, List of Popes, & Facts | Britannica Get the latest news, videos and updates from the Sistine Chapel. Follow U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV and key events from the Vatican that are shaping the Catholic Church.

Final Thoughts

At churches with connections to Pope Leo and the Trump administration, pastors and parishioners speak out on the quarrel between the president and the pontiff.