What is the role of the Pope in the Catholic Church?
The Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome, is the successor of Saint Peter and the visible head of the universal Catholic Church on earth.
When Jesus established his Church, he singled out Peter among the Twelve Apostles, declaring him the rock upon which he would build his Church and giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The Pope inherits this ministry of unity and pastoral oversight.
As the Vicar of Christ, the Pope's primary duty is to shepherd the flock of Christ, protect and hand on the authentic apostolic faith, and ensure the unity of all dioceses across the globe. Together with the college of bishops around the world, he provides teaching, pastoral care, and sacramental communion to Catholic believers everywhere.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 881
- Matthew 16:18-19
- John 21:15-17
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.