Pope

The Pope is the head of the Church of Rome, the Bishop of Rome and the Vicar (representative) of Jesus Christ on Earth. Although the term Pontiff was used for any bishop in antiquity and the early Middle Ages, it has been used exlusively for the Pope since the 10th century.
As head of the Church of Rome, the Pope is one of the five Patriarchs of Christianity, alsongside the Patrriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. Since the Church of Rome was founded by St Peter, who was made leader of the Apostles by Christ, the Papacy claims primacy over the other Patriarchs; in 1054 attempts to enforce this claim led to the Great Schism between the Roman and Byzantine churches.
Sometimes factions opposed to a particular pope set up a rival pope; these are considered anti-popes by the church.

Appointment

Until 1059 there was no set method for choosing the Pope. In the early church, popes might nominate their successor. In late antituity popes might be chosen by acclain of the people of Rome. Pope Fabian (236-250 CE) was chosen when a dove landed on him, taken as a sign of the favour of the Holy Spirit. But by the later part of the first millennium, political factions chose the pope, giving the College of Cardinals little option other than to approve the faction's choice.
In 1059 Pope Nicholas II instituted a new election procedure: first the six or seven Cardinal-Bishops discuss and choose candidates, then invite the Cardinal-Priests and Cardinal-Deacons to vote for the candidate, though they had to gain the assent of the lower clergy and the Roman laity for thjeir choice. The requirement to obtain this assent was dropped in the Second Lateran Council of 1139. In the Third Lateran Council of 1179 the Cardinal-Bishops' privilege of prior discussion was dropped, and all members of the College of Cardinals had equal and equal part in choosing a new pope.   These reforms have transferred the power to choose the pope from political forces to the most senior church hierarchy.

Notable Holders

List of Popes

Type

Religious, Clerical

Form of Address

His/Your Holiness

Alternative Naming

Pontiff, Bishop of Rome, Patriarch of Rome

Source of Authority

Divine/College of Cardinals

Length of Term

Appointed for life

First Holder

Saint Peter

Current Holders

• Pope Celestine III

Related Locations

• Rome

Related Organizations

• Latin Church