What Is the Pope? Peter, Rome, and Catholic Unity
What is the Pope? Understand the Bishop of Rome, Peter and the keys, the Pope's work with bishops, and the real limits of his teaching and governing authority.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pope?
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and successor of Saint Peter, serving as a visible source of unity and exercising pastoral authority for the whole Catholic Church.
Can the Pope invent new revelation?
No. He serves the faith handed on from the apostles. His task is to guard and explain the deposit of faith, not replace Christ's revelation.
Are bishops merely the Pope's employees?
No. Bishops are successors of the apostles with their own pastoral responsibility. They govern their churches in communion with the Pope and the other bishops.
Is the Pope sinless or always right?
No. Papal infallibility is a limited protection in definitive teaching, not a guarantee of sinlessness or perfect judgment.