What Are the Duties & Obligations of a Pope?

"Pope" is the title conventionally given to the Bishop of Rome and the head of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Pontiff. Upon his election, the Pope is vested with ultimate power and companion duties and obligations associated with overseeing all affairs of the Church.

History

In the Catholic tradition, the Pope is the successor to Peter, the Apostle of Christ. Popes have held the position as the supreme leaders of the Catholic Church for about 2,000 years.

Function

The Pope possesses absolute power as the spiritual leader of the world's one billion Catholics, the largest Christian church in existence. He is also the secular leader of the nation of Vatican City.

Misconceptions

The most common misconception associated with the Pope is the doctrine of infallibility (speaking without error). Many people presume that everything the Pope says is infallible, but only one Pope ever made an infallible statement, Pius XII in 1950.

Matters of Faith

The primary duties and obligations of a Pope are to serve as the supreme pastor of Catholics worldwide, setting forth the manner in which they shall pursue their faith and life in accordance with the teachings of Christ.

Interesting Facts

The shortest-reigning Pope was Urban VII (13 days). Excluding Peter the Apostle, the longest-reigning Pope was Pius XI (over 31 years).

References

• Vatican: The Holy Father
• Catholic Encyclopedia: The Pope
• Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy; Roger Collins; 2009

Resources

• History of the Catholic Church

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Photo Credit

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Michela Mongardi