Pope 101: Commonly Asked Questions Answered — Part One
By: Erika Fitzgerald
Tags: Catholicism, Apologetics, Facts, Pope, Catholic

This article series hopes to explain the Office of the Pope and all that is associated with it such as what the pope is, how the role has changed throughout history, and who each of the Popes have been from Peter to Francis.

By Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Photographer name), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34828249

What is the Pope?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines Pope as “the bishop of Rome as head of the Catholic Church” and “(in early Christian churches) a bishop.” In the East the term pope was applied to most early bishops and senior clergy. It was not until the 11th century that the term became used solely for the Pope in Rome who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church (newadvent.org).

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines Pope as “[the term] presently employed solely to denote the Bishop of Rome, who in virtue as successor of St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the whole church, the Vicar of Christ upon Earth.”

In the Catholic religion the Pope is the source and guarantor of the church’s unity. He has supreme pastoral authority in doctrinal and disciplinary decisions. He is in charge of the whole church and has an integral leadership role that not be fulfilled by another party.

But where does the Pope’s authority status come from?

St Peter is considered the first Pope in the Roman Catholic religion. St Peter’s authority came directly from Jesus as discussed in Matthew 16:18–19 where Peter is promised a “special place in the Church.”

18 And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Many early church fathers have taken the ‘rock’ in the passages to mean Peter himself, while others take it mean Peter’s confession of Faith. The “special place” has been construed to mean the Papacy.

Pope Peter by Chevalier Artaud de Montor, New York: The Catholic Publication Society of America

The Popes exhibit The Petrine Function, which is derived from this belief that Peter is the divine mouthpiece of Jesus on Earth. The Petrine function is the belief that the function exercised by the Pope is of Divine Institution. In other words there is the sense that the factors influencing the development of Peter becoming Pope were guided by the Holy Spirit and that all of his successors have been embodied with the same Divine Institution. Peters’ successors have been afforded the same authority within the church as him.

“The college or body of bishops has no authority unless it is simultaneously conceived of in terms of its head, the Roman Pontiff, Peter’s successor, and without any lessening of his power of primacy over all, pastors as well as the general faithful. For in virtue of his office, that is as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the whole Church, the Roman Pontiff has full, supreme and universal power over the Church. And he can always exercise this power freely.” — Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium § 22. (earlychristiantexts.com)

The Pope’s origin has been debated between historians and Protestants and Catholics who may not view Peter as a true Pope. This article will not delve into those theories and arguments because regardless of the origin of the Papacy the role is an integral part of the Church structure.

What responsibilities does the Pope have?

As spiritual leader of the world’s largest religion, and as the Vatican’s head of state, the pope’s responsibilities are numerous. Some of his duties, according to the Vatican Website, include but are not limited to:

Serving as bishop of the archdiocese of Rome Providing spiritual guidance to its members Appointing bishops and cardinals Presiding at beatification and canonization ceremonies Spreading the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church through his travels Writing documents that define the Catholic Church’s official position on issues facing the world Conferring with global leaders and politicians about these issues Maintaining diplomatic relations on behalf of Vatican City Holding holiday Mass and delivering liturgies

Most of the daily responsibilities and traveling are modern duties that came about after the Vatican I Council. Before the Pope became a political powerhouse on the scale He is now, the traveling was much less granting the Pope more time to write epistles.

Crest of Pope Francis. Courtesy of Vatican.va

The Pope represents Christ’s love and concern for every single individual. His main priority should lie in getting to know people, understanding how they live, listening to their interests and sharing their sufferings and their joys. On no account should the Pope allow his contact with ordinary people to be obstructed by a multitude of administrative duties. But his other duties are just as important to the church as his meeting with ordinary people

What happens when a Pope dies?

Chamberlain Cardinal declaring Pope deceased. Courtesy of wikimedia commons.

Popes can either die in office, or like Pope Benedict XVI, retire from the papacy. What happens when the Office of the Pope is empty? Nothing. Everything is paused or in suspension until a new Pope is elected. All of the offices remain in suspension; so no major decisions are made, and no new bishops are appointed during the conclave no matter how long the conclave lasts. The bishops and cardinals have no authority to make any of the decisions the Pope makes. Everything is literally stopped until a new Pope is elected. There are provisions for the Cardinal Chamberlain and two assistants, who are elected every three days by the conclave, to run the day to day immediate needs for the Papacy and Vatican City if needed, but this is fairly modern in the scope of the church history.

Pope John Paul II Funeral By Ricardo Stuckert/PR — Agência Brasil [1], CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101466

The deceased Pope must be laid out in Vatican City for between four and six days so pilgrimages can made to see the body. Within nine days of confirmed death funeral plans must be made. The nine days of mourning are called novemdiales.

How is a new Pope elected?

When a Pope dies a new one is not waiting in the wings like a Prince to step up and be crowned. In a post John Paul II, apostolic constitution, there is a Papal Conclave or a meeting of the College of Cardinals who then convene and elect a Pope. The Conclave usually takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of the Pope.

By View of the Conclave, with the stove for burning ballots in the corner Histoire des conclaves 3rd ed. (1703) Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=97100513

A Pope is confirmed dead by the Cardinal Chamberlain who calls his name three times awaiting an answer. The Ring of Fisherman and Papal Seal are removed from the dead-pontiff and burned to prevent forgery and signal an end of reign. The Cardinals gather for a sermon at St Peter’s before gathering again in the Apostolic Palace and beginning the march to the Sistine Chapel while singing the “Litany of Saints.” Once they are settled in the Sistine Chapel they here another sermon before the sealing of the chapel. Once the Chapel is sealed the Cardinal Chamberlain and his assistants have the duty of making sure the Chapel stays sealed. Before the election process can start the Senior Cardinal reads aloud the oath as set forth in the Apostolic Constitution with each member repeating it back .

Et ego [given name] Cardinalis [surname] spondeo, voveo ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango. And I, [given name] Cardinal [surname], so promise, pledge and swear. So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I now touch with my hand. — Oath from Apostolic Constitution

After the oath the Master/Senior Cardinal expels all outsiders except for one ecclesiastic. The ecclesiastic makes a speech regarding the needs of the church in the world before they are escorted out leaving the cardinals to begin voting.

Once all the guidelines are met as laid out in the Constitution the voting can commence. The votes needed to elect a Pope as laid out in the Aeterni Patris Filius and renewed by Pope Benedict XVI, is two-thirds. At one point the majority needed was two-thirds plus one depending on if the nominated Cardinal could vote for himself or not.

After ballots are cast they go through scrutiny, pre-scrutiny and post-scrutiny. If the votes fail to produce a new pope then the chimney smokes out black smoke. Originally when the vote failed to come to a decision the ballots were burnt and the laity would know that smoke out of the chimney meant no Pope had been elected. In modern times, when a new pope is elected the chimney smokes out white smoke. The conclaves are not usually resolved in a day.

Black Smoke signifying the conclave failed to reach a 2/3 majority. Courtesy Wikipedia Cheryl Chumley.

In the past conclave members could have servants and attendants in the sealed conclave with them; however due to modern media and the chance of leaks, this is not allowed now. Cardinals are allowed a nurse and a doctor if their health deems that it is needed. In the last conclave the Sistine Chapel was actually swept for bugs and recording devices prior to being sealed. Secrecy is the most important part of the conclave. Cardinals who dare to break the silence regarding the vote are excommunicated.

There have been proposals made to create a larger voting body since the College of Cardinals is small and limited. However none of these proposals have been adopted. Perhaps the conclave will undergo a significant change in our lifetimes. Some have proposed the election of the pope by a special synod of bishops. This would imitate some of the Eastern-rite churches where metropolitans and patriarchs are elected by synods of bishops. However, the method for selecting the synod members would inevitably be controversial (Cardinals and Conclaves By Thomas J. Reese, S.J).

What are the Popes official titles?

The Pope is a man of titles both historic in nature and job specific. According to the Official Vatican Website the Pope has 8 titles. “Pope” is not one of them.

Vicar of Jesus Christ. Successor of the Prince of the Apostles. Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church. Primate of Italy. Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of Rome. Sovereign of Vatican City State. Servant of the Servants of God.

The term pope is not an official title of the Pope. Instead is it a term of colloquial endearment stemming from the name of Sancta Papa or Holy Father.

What does the Pope wear?

The Pope wears many different hats, literally. Below is a summarized list of the Papal Regalia (Vestments by NewAdvent.org). He has his every day wear: cassock, zucchetto, and shoes or his choir/ceremony wear which consists of different combinations of the rest.

Mitre- the ceremonial papal headdress, this is the hat that is thought of when someone says “Pope Hat.” It is a symbol of authority and St. Peter is often depicted as wearing one, even on roman coins. It has been referred to as the “Crown of the Pope.”

Stole- a ceremonial type of scarf. The stole is 4 inches wide and 80 inches long with embroidered crosses at the end and the middle. Usually a priest would kiss the cross in the middle before placing it across the Pope’s shoulders. The stole represents the fetters that Jesus wore on the way to His crucifixion. The stole represents the sense of duty and sacrifice the Pope takes when he takes office. The stole should not be confused with the Pallium.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in an embroidered stole. By Fabio Pozzebom/ABr — Agência Brasil [1], CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2087685

Pallium- is like the stole in that it is a scarf worn around the neck, but instead of hanging like a typical scarf it is a circle that goes around the neck with one long piece hanging down the middle of the chest. The pallium has been traced back by Vatican historians to the reign of Pope Marcus. The Pope can wear the pallium when he chooses and can grant Cardinals special cases to wear one. However, just because the Pope can wear it whenever he desires does not mean he does. It is one of the most sacred garment that in modern day is worn only for the most solemn services. The pallium represents the pastoral power of the pope and participation in the power.

Pope John Paul II in Pallium. By José Cruz/Abr — Agência Brasil [1], CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115911

Cassock- this is the garment the Pope is typically seen in. It is his every day garments. His cassock is white while most other clergy is black. The cassock most simply represents that the Pope is a member of clergy thus creating unity but also signifying that the Pope is in charge.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in cassock by Valter Campanato/ABr — Agência Brasil [1], CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2099813

Zucchetto- the skull cap worn by clergy. Each tier of clergy has a specified color with the Pope again wearing white. It is again a marker of the clergy and creates unity. Before Covid-19 a person could bring the Pope a white zucchetto to exchange with the one the Pope was wearing at that moment. It is unclear if this tradition is being honored during Covid restrictions. But before Covid it was a neat way to gain a Pope artifact and souvenir.

By Gugganij (talk)Gamarelli_Papal_vestment_20050412.jpg: Anthony M. — Gamarelli_Papal_vestment_20050412.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4565661

Mozzetta- the elbow length cape the covers the shoulder as part of the choir dress and is worn under the stole. The mozetta has five iterations: summer- red satin; winter- red velvet with white trim fur; red serge- worn during Masses for the dead; red-clothed- which is for Advent and Lenten season; and lastly the Paschal which is worn for Easter. It is THE symbol of authority and sovereignty over the Church. Pope Francis has made news for his refusal to wear a mozzetta. His unwillingness to wear one signifies his extreme humility, which is unsettling to some Catholics.

Winter Mozzeta as worn by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. By Archiwum Kancelarii Prezydenta RPGFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2480653

Papal Shoes- historically the Pope wears a pair of red Moroccan leather loafers which symbolize the martyrdom of everyone in the religion. It is typically the only point of color in the Pope’s day to day outfits. Pope John Paul II switched the shoes from red to brown. Pope Benedict XVI switched back to red shoes. Currently in sticking with the humbleness he has shown Pope Francis has chosen to wear simple black shoes. It has been left up to the discretion of each Pope during Vatican II as to what color, brand, and style loafers worn.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s red loafers. Courtesy of wikipedia.

Ring of the Fisherman- also known as the Piscatory Ring. The ring is tied to St. Peter who was a fisherman by trade and was used until the middle ages as the wax seal imprint to seal all official documents. This is the ring that is kissed to show respect, however with current Covid restrictions is it unclear if this is still in practice. Pope Benedict XVI wore the ring every day even though it is not required anymore. Pope Francis wears a simple gold plated silver ring for ceremonies and a simple silver ring from his days as a cardinal in keeping with his humility.

Vatican.va Ring given to the Pope bearing an image of St. Peter with the key. Courtesy of Vatican.va

Papal Tiara- no longer worn by Popes, was last worn in 1963 by Pope Paul VI for his coronation. It is a literal crown worn only for coronations that has been traced back to as early as the 8th century.

By MatthiasKabel — Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6738633

References:

Menachery, George “Last Days of Pope John Paul” St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India.

O’Malley, John W. A History of the Popes: From Peter to the Present.

Duffy, Eamon. Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes (Second Edition)

North, Wyatt. A History of the Popes: Volume 1: Origins to the Middle Ages