Pope facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Bishop of Rome Pontifex maximus Pope
Pope Leo XIV in 2025
Coat of arms
Location
Country	Vatican City
Ecclesiastical province	Rome
Headquarters	Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Established	1st century
Cathedral	Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
Governance	Holy See
Website
vatican.va/holyfather

Papal styles of Pope Leo XIV

Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father

The pope is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also called the supreme pontiff or Roman pontiff. The pope is one of the most influential people in the world. He leads over 1.3 billion Catholics and is the head of the world's largest non-government provider of education and healthcare.

From a Catholic perspective, the pope's authority comes from his role as the successor to Saint Peter. Catholics believe Jesus chose Peter to be the "rock" upon which the Church would be built. The current pope is Leo XIV, who was elected on 8 May 2025.

The pope is also the head of state of Vatican City, the world's smallest independent country. It is located inside the city of Rome, Italy. This was established by the Lateran Treaty in 1929 to ensure the pope's independence. The pope's office is called the papacy, and his church authority is known as the Holy See.

History of the Papacy
How a Pope is Chosen
The Pope's Roles and Titles
Symbols of the Pope
Images for kids
See also

History of the Papacy

The papacy is one of the oldest institutions in the world and has played a major role in history.

Early Beginnings

According to Catholic tradition, the church in Rome was founded by Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the first century. Early popes helped spread Christianity and settled disagreements about church teachings. The word pope comes from the Greek word páppas, which means "father." At first, this title was used for many bishops, but by the 11th century, it was officially reserved for the bishop of Rome.

In the early days of Christianity, Rome became a very important Christian center. After the Roman Empire made Nicene Christianity its state religion in 380 AD, the power of the pope in the Western Roman Empire grew.

The Middle Ages

Gregory the Great was pope from 590 to 604. He is known for his reforms and writings that shaped the medieval church.

After the Western Roman Empire fell, the pope became a source of authority and stability. Pope Gregory I (590–604) was a key figure who reformed the church. During the Middle Ages, popes often acted as peacemakers between Christian kings and had great political power.

In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as emperor. This set a precedent that emperors in Western Europe needed to be crowned by a pope. However, the papacy also faced difficult times. For a period, popes were controlled by powerful political families.

A reform movement began in the 10th century to fight corruption. In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade to help the Byzantine Empire and reclaim Christian holy lands.

From Schism to Modern Times

A map of the Mediterranean in 1400. The Western Schism (1378–1417) was a time when there were multiple claimants to the papacy.

In 1054, the East–West Schism caused a major split between the Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East. This split was caused by both political and religious differences.

From 1309 to 1377, the popes lived in Avignon, France, not Rome. This period is known as the Avignon Papacy. Later, the Western Schism (1378–1417) was a time when there were two, and even three, rival popes. The Council of Constance finally ended the schism.

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century challenged the pope's authority. In response, the Catholic Church began the Catholic Reformation. The Council of Trent (1545–1563) clarified Catholic teachings and strengthened the papacy.

Over time, the pope's direct political power decreased. In 1870, the Papal States became part of the new Kingdom of Italy. The pope's role became more focused on spiritual matters. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty created Vatican City as an independent state, ensuring the pope's freedom from secular rule.

How a Pope is Chosen

When a pope dies or resigns, a new one is chosen in a special election called a papal conclave.

The Conclave

The Delivery of the Keys by Pietro Perugino (1481). This painting shows Jesus giving the keys of heaven to Saint Peter, symbolizing the authority of the pope.

The election is held in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The voters are the cardinals of the Catholic Church who are under 80 years old. The cardinals are locked inside the chapel (the word conclave comes from the Latin for "with a key") until they elect a new pope.

Any baptized Catholic male can be elected pope, but for centuries, the new pope has always been one of the cardinals.

Voting and the Smoke Signal

The cardinals vote on paper ballots. To be elected, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority. After each vote, the ballots are burned in a special stove. The smoke signals the result to the world.

If no one is elected, a chemical is added to the ballots to create black smoke (fumata nera). When a pope is finally chosen, the ballots are burned alone, creating white smoke (fumata bianca). This tells the crowd in Saint Peter's Square that a new pope has been elected.

"We Have a Pope!"

The formal declaration of "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") after the election of Pope Martin V in 1417.

After the white smoke appears, the senior cardinal deacon steps onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announces, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam!" which means "I announce to you a great joy! We have a pope!" He then introduces the new pope to the world by his birth name and his new papal name.

The new pope then gives his first blessing, called Urbi et Orbi ("to the City [of Rome] and to the World").

The Pope's Roles and Titles

The pope has several important roles and titles.

Official Titles

The official list of titles for the pope includes:

Bishop of Rome
Vicar of Jesus Christ
Successor of the Prince of the Apostles
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church
Primate of Italy
Sovereign of the Vatican City State
Servant of the servants of God

The most common title, "pope," is not on the official list but is used everywhere. When a new pope is elected, he chooses a new name, called a papal name. For example, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis.

Leader of the Catholic Church

The pope's most important job is to be the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. He is responsible for teaching Catholic beliefs and guiding the Church. Catholics believe the pope is infallible (meaning he cannot make a mistake) only when he speaks ex cathedra ("from the chair"). This is a rare event where he formally defines a doctrine on faith or morals.

Head of Vatican City

The pope is also the absolute monarch of Vatican City. This makes him a head of state, like a king or a president. The Holy See (the government of the Church) sends and receives diplomats from countries all over the world. This allows the pope to play a role in international affairs and work for peace.

Symbols of the Pope

The pope has several unique symbols associated with his office.

Ring of the Fisherman: A gold ring with an image of St. Peter fishing from a boat. It is destroyed when a pope dies.
Papal Coat of Arms: Each pope has a personal coat of arms. It traditionally includes two crossed keys, one gold and one silver, which represent the keys to the kingdom of heaven given to St. Peter.
Flag of Vatican City: The flag is yellow and white, with the papal coat of arms on the white half.
Popemobile: The name for the special vehicle the pope uses during public appearances. It is often designed with bulletproof glass to protect him while allowing him to be seen by crowds.

Images for kids

The Council of Trent (1545–1563) was a key part of the Catholic Reformation and strengthened the papacy.
The funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 was attended by leaders and people from all over the world.
An inscription at the entrance to Vatican City reads "Benedictus XVI Pontifex Maximus," a traditional title for the pope.
Pope Pius IX had the longest confirmed reign in papal history, from 1846 to 1878.
Pope Urban VII had the shortest papal reign, lasting only 13 days in 1590.