The Pope holds several titles and roles that signify his position as the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. He is referred to as the Vicar of Christ, representing Jesus as the political and spiritual head of the universal Church. As the Successor to St. Peter, who was deemed the Prince of the Apostles, the Pope leads the Church from the apostolic see in Rome. Additionally, he acts as the Supreme Pontiff and Primate of Italy, exercising authority over the Catholic Church globally and in Italy.
The Pope holds several titles and roles that signify his position as the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. He is referred to as the Vicar of Christ, representing Jesus as the political and spiritual head of the universal Church. As the Successor to St. Peter, who was deemed the Prince of the Apostles, the Pope leads the Church from the apostolic see in Rome. Additionally, he acts as the Supreme Pontiff and Primate of Italy, exercising authority over the Catholic Church globally and in Italy.
The Pope holds several titles and roles that signify his position as the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. He is referred to as the Vicar of Christ, representing Jesus as the political and spiritual head of the universal Church. As the Successor to St. Peter, who was deemed the Prince of the Apostles, the Pope leads the Church from the apostolic see in Rome. Additionally, he acts as the Supreme Pontiff and Primate of Italy, exercising authority over the Catholic Church globally and in Italy.
‘Santo Papa,' — which is where we get 'Pope.' Bishop of Rome "Bishop" comes from the Greek "episcopas," meaning "overseer," and Rome of course being HQ for the Catholic Church. The term "pope," or "papa," didn’t emerge until later. There was a tomb under St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, where it's believed that St. Peter is buried. Vicar of Jesus Christ, or Vicar of Christ That is, his political headship of the universal church. So a vicar would be something like a vice regent. It is a medieval or early modern title. Successor of the Prince of the Apostles Another direct reference to St. Peter, who was deemed Prince of the Apostles on the strength of Jesus declaring in Matthew 16:18, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church The word "pontiff" comes from the Latin "pontifex," meaning "bridge-builder." "Pontifex maximus" was the great bridge-builder of ancient Rome, a title held by the likes of Julius Caesar. Accordingly, the title was assumed by the Bishop of Rome post-Reformation, as an assertion of his "juridical and communicative status." Primate of Italy "A 'primate' is the head — or the 'primus,' the first one — of a region of the world. "As primate of Italy, he is the number one bishop of Italy... So when the Italian cardinals meet, he would be in charge of the cardinals.“ Like with any massive bureaucracy, the Catholic Church has layer upon layer of jurisdictions, and this title affirms the pope's status among the other bishops in his home country. Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province This is another layer. The universal church is divided into regions, provinces, and then the diocese, for which there is the "archbishop and metropolitan“. Sovereign of the State of Vatican City The Pope is like a king or president of 29 acres, the Vatican City. "In previous centuries, the pope was the sovereign of the papal states, so they had political jurisdiction over much of central Italy." Following the unification of Italy in 1870, Vatican City's status — "The Roman Question" — was up in the air until the Lateran Treaty of 1929 established it as a sovereign state within Benito Mussolini's Italy. Servant of the Servants of God From the Latin "Servus servorum Dei" and rooted in Matthew 20:26-27, which says, "whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." At the Last Supper, Jesus gets down on his knees and washes the feet of the 12. He's saying, 'I'm trying to show you something: you are servants.'
White, James F - Roman Catholic Worship - Trent To Today (2016, Liturgical Press 320-322 - Liturgical Press, Made Available Through Hoopla) - Libgen - Li