The Pope sees his role as closest man in the world to his god, and thus a moral authority on the people of the church he leads. If you could ask their dogs what their life is about, they'd suggest little more than eating, sleeping and finding a bitch. The history of mankind differs from the history of animals, because we generally believe we have transcended our basic survival purpose to seek meaning and follow those they perceive represent their interests. But it's all so complicated in humans. It's a catalogue of culture - a perpetual conflict and complement of ideas, reinforced by symbols, shaped by technology, influenced by the strong and privileged.
Culture is relative.
In the days of the tribe, it was defined by the small group you were born into. With the dawn of agriculture and civilisation, it became geographically dependant. People tended to stay put - the places of worship, local authority and people prescribed your view of the world. With the era of travel and discovery of other civilisations, it was the religion that you carried with you that set you apart from your neighbours. Big whirrey machines got people on the move again, only that time they were setting themselves up for a national economy.