pope

pope, (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”), the title, since about the 9th century ce, of the bishop of Rome, who is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the largest of the three major branches of Christianity. The title was formerly given, especially from the 3rd to the 5th century, to any bishop and sometimes to priests as an ecclesiastical title expressing affectionate respect. In Eastern Orthodox churches, the title is still used for the patriarch of Alexandria and for Orthodox priests. (See also papacy.)

(Read Britannica’s article “How Is the Pope Elected?”)

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Doctrinally, in the Roman Catholic Church, the pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, who was head of the Apostles of Jesus. As bishop of Rome, the pope is thus seen to have full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. The basis of this doctrine of papal primacy is twofold, involving the place of St. Peter in the New Testament (in which there are various metaphors expressing Peter’s authority) and the place of the Roman church in history. The understanding of papal primacy developed as the church developed, two notable factors being the role of Rome as the imperial city until the 5th century and the religious and political role of the bishop of Rome afterward. For more information about papal primacy, see Petrine theory.

Why hasn’t there been an American pope?

The pope, as the bishop of Rome, is the head of the Holy See, the Roman Catholic Church’s central government, which in turn is assisted by the various departments of the Roman Curia. The pope thus makes decisions on issues of faith and morality for Catholics throughout the world, a population of about 1.3 billion. In the 20th century the role of the pope evolved with church teaching on the role of bishops. The changes made by the ecumenical Second Vatican Council (1962–65) counterbalanced the emphasis on papal prerogatives while maintaining the view that the authority of the bishops as a single collegial body cannot be separated from that of the pope as the head of that body. Although the Eastern Orthodox Church has long been willing to give the bishop of Rome the primacy of honor accorded to patriarchs, and although many Protestants have appreciated the moral leadership shown by some recent popes, the Catholic doctrine of papal primacy was still a major obstacle to ecumenical efforts that began in the 20th century. In 2025, the church made a historic choice when Cardinal Robert Prevost became the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV.

(Who are the most influential popes in the history of the Roman Catholic Church?)

The Annuario Pontificio, the official directory of the Holy See, describes the office of the pope by the following titles:

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

The title pope or papa (abbreviated PP.) is officially used only as a less solemn style. Papabile refers to someone who is a likely or worthy contender for the papacy.

The pope is elected to his position by a procedure known as the papal conclave, in which cardinal electors gather in Vatican City and sequester themselves to vote for the next pope. This assembly takes place after a pope dies or resigns. In brief, only cardinals under 80 years old are allowed to vote in a conclave. They choose from among their fellow cardinals, although there is no rule that states a pope must be a cardinal. Typically, several rounds of voting occur before the cardinals reach the two-thirds majority required to elect a pope. After he is selected, the new pope chooses a papal name, and his election is announced to the public. For further details on this procedure, see papal conclave and How Is the Pope Elected?

(Read Britannica’s article “What Do Cardinals and Popes Wear?”)

The pope lives in Vatican City, an ecclesiastical state and enclave surrounded by Rome. Traditionally, the pope resides inside the Vatican Palace. However, Pope Francis (reigned 2013–25) broke from this tradition by opting for a two-room apartment in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse in Vatican City normally used by cardinal electors during the papal conclave. Castel Gandolfo is a castle in central Italy that has been used as a summer residence by some popes.

A list of popes and antipopes is provided in the table.