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 The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in papal conclave. He is the 265th pope. In addition to his spiritual role, the pope is Head of State of the independent sovereign state of the Vatican City, a city-state entirely enclaved by the city of Rome. The name Pope comes from the Greek word pappas, meaning "father".
Popes are elected by Cardinals of the Catholic Church. Once they are elected they hold the position until they die or they resign. Usually they don't resign, though; the last pope who resigned was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. After a Pope is elected, the pope chooses a different name. Everyone is told the new name when the Habemus Papam is read out.
The current pope (Benedict XVI) was called Joseph Ratzinger before he became a pope. He is the first German Pope since Adrian VI, who was Pope from 1522 to 1523. His choice of the name Benedict was significant. In his first general audience in St Peter's Square on April 27, 2005, the new Pope explained why he chose the name.
He revealed: "Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."Additionally, I recall Saint Benedict of Nursia, co-patron of Europe, whose life evokes the Christian roots of Europe. I ask him to help us all to hold firm to the centrality of Christ in our Christian life: May Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions."
In the Middle Ages, the Pope had a lot of political power. From 590 to 1517, the Roman Church dominated the western world. The Roman Catholic Church controlled religion, philosophy, morals, politics, art and education. This was the dark ages for true Christianity. The vital doctrines of Biblical Christianity had almost disappeared, and with the neglect of true doctrine came the passing of life and light that constitutes the worship of the One True God as declared in Christ. Now the Pope has no significant political power anymore. Early popes helped spread Christianity and resolve doctrinal disputes. Over the centuries, popes' claims of spiritual authority have been ever more clearly expressed since the first centuries, culminating in the proclamation of the dogma of papal infallibility for those rare occasions the pope speaks ex cathedra (literally "from the chair (of Peter)") when issuing a solemn definition of faith or morals. The last such occasion was in the year 1950 with the definition of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary.
Infallibility of the Pope
Catholics believe that when making statements ex cathedra, that is official statements teaching about faith and morals, the Pope is infallible - which means God will not allow his followers to be misled by allowing their leader to make a wrong statement. Only two of any Pope's statements have been ex cathedra.
According to Roman Catholic theology, only the actual 'act of teaching' is properly called "infallible". For example, according to Roman Catholic dogma, Pope Pius IX's teaching regarding the Immaculate Conception was infallible; it is grammatically incorrect to say "the pope is (sometimes) infallible" or to say "the Immaculate Conception is infallible". However, these phrases are commonly used in conversations or Catholic writings.
Initially the infallibility was not an officially declared dogma of the Roman Church (later it became official dogma in 1870), it was an assumed fact. As early as 590, Gregory the Great called himself “the servant of servants,” believing that he was supreme among all bishops. Another pope in 11th century, Hildebrand or Gregory VII, held that, as vicar of Christ and representative of Peter, he could give or take empires. Everyone from the lowest peasant to the highest ruler was to recognize him as Christ’s representative on earth and supreme ruler over all religious and political matters. In 14th century pope Boniface VII, said,
“We declare, state, define and pronounce that for every human creature to be subject to the Roman pope is altogether necessary for salvation” (Caper, The Church in History).
Read more about Papal Infallibility.
In response to the congratulatory message of the Chief Rabbi of Rome, the Holy Father sent the following message:
May the Lord have mercy and bless us; may his light shine upon us. On April 19, 2005, the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church elected me Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Catholic Church. In announcing my election and the solemn inauguration of my pontificate, on Sunday, April 24, at 10 o'clock, I trust in the help of the Almighty to continue with the dialogue and to reinforce collaboration with the sons and daughters of the Jewish people.
Pope Benedict XVI Quotes
- We can be sure our beloved pope is standing today at the window of the father's house, that he sees us and blesses us.
- women preserve the deep intuition of the goodness in their lives of those actions which elicit life, and contribute to the growth and protection of the other. . . . But, in the final analysis, every human being, man or woman, is destined to be for the other....
- Humor is in fact an essential element in the mirth of creation. We can see how, in many matters in our lives, God wants to prod us into taking things a bit more lightly.
- I did not expect it at all because for me it is evident that we come from the roots of Israel and that their Bible is our Bible and that Judaism is not just one of many religions, but is the foundation, the root of our faith. We share the faith of Abraham.
- Personally, I always have been grateful for the fact that in this way my life from the beginning was immersed in the paschal mystery, which could not be anything other than a blessing.
- I address myself to everyone, even to those who follow other religions or who are simply seeking an answer to the fundamental questions of life and have not yet found it.
- Today, I, too, wish to reaffirm that I intend to continue on the path toward improved relations and friendship with the Jewish people, following the decisive lead given by John Paul II.
- We must have great respect for these people who also suffer and who want to find their own way of correct living. On the other hand, to create a legal form of a kind of homosexual marriage, in reality, does not help these people.
- It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stand at the heart of the Christian religion.
- God "has a great sense of humor".
 Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was born on April 16, 1927 in German village and historic market municipality in the state of Bavaria, Marktl am Inn. On June 29, 1951 he was ordained a priest
His father was a police officer. He came from a traditional family of farmers from Lower Bavaria. He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, a town in the south-eastern part of Bavaria, and was called into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World War II. From years 1946 to 1951 he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich and at the higher school in Freising. After study he began to teach. In 1953, he obtained a doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled: "The People and House of God in St. Augustine’s doctrine of the Church". In 1957, he qualified as a university teacher. He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy and theology of Freising, a town in Bavaria, then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969, Münster from 1963 to 1966 and Tubinga from 1966 to 1969. From 1969 he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice President of the same university.
In 1962, at the age of 35, he became a consultor at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joseph Frings. Since then he was already well known. Among his numerous publications, a particular post belongs to the ‘Introduction to Christianity’, a collection of university lessons on the profession of apostolic faith, published in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral ministry, published in 1973.
In March 1977, Pope Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on May 28, 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years to take over the pastoral ministry of this large Bavarian diocese. Paul VI elevated him to the College of Cardinals in the consistory of June 27, 1977.
Titular churches, suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni (April 5, 1993) and suburbicarian see of Ostia (November 30, 2002). On November 25, 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical Commission and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission. Relator of the 5th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980). President Delegate to the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983).
Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, November 6, 1998. On November 30, 2002, the Holy Father approved the election, by the order of cardinal bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals. President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to the Holy Father. Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta, November 10, 1999.
Honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, November 13, 2000.
Urbi et orbi Message for Easter – April 12, 2009
... It is neither a myth nor a dream, it is not a vision or a utopia, it is not a fairy tale, but it is a singular and unrepeatable event: Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, who at dusk on Friday was taken down from the Cross and buried, has victoriously left the tomb. In fact, at dawn on the first day after the Sabbath, Peter and John found the tomb empty. ... Today the Church calls in prayer upon Mary, Star of Hope, asking her to guide humanity towards the safe haven of salvation which is the heart of Christ, the paschal Victim, the Lamb who has "redeemed the world," the Innocent one who has "reconciled us sinners with the Father." To him, our victorious King, to him who is crucified and risen, we sing out with joy our Alleluia!
On the Africa Trip – General Audience, April 1, 2009
... I recall the solemn celebration of Vespers that took place in Yaoundé, in the Church of Mary Queen of the Apostles, Patroness of Cameroon, a large and modern church, which rises in the place where the first evangelizers of Cameroon worked, the Spiritan Missionaries. On the eve of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, to whose careful custody God entrusted his most precious treasures, Mary and Jesus, we gave glory to the one Father who is in heaven, together with the representatives of other Churches and ecclesial communities. Contemplating the spiritual figure of St. Joseph, who consecrated his life to Christ and the Virgin Mary, I invited priests, consecrated persons and members of ecclesial movements to be always faithful to their vocation, living in the presence of God and in joyful obedience of his Word. ... I entrust everything and everyone to the maternal intercession of Mary Most Holy, Queen of Africa and of the African saints and blessed. |
