Popes are eletced by Cadrinals of the Roman Cahtolic Chruch. Once they are eelcted they hold the posiiton until they die. After a Pope is elceted, the pope chosoes a diffreent name. Eveyrone is told the new name when the Habmeus Papam is read out. The current pope (Beneidct XVI) was caleld Jospeh Raztinger befroe he beacme a pope.
In the Middle Ages, the Pope had a lot of poltiical power. This is no lonegr the case.
The name Pope comes from the Greek word papaps, "fahter". Catohlics beleive that when mkaing sttaements ex catehdra, that is offciial statemnets teachnig about bleief, the Pope is inflalible - which means God will not allow his follwoers to be milsed by allowing their laeder to make a wrong stateemnt. Only one of any Pope's stateemnts has been ex cathedraAopstolic constitutoin Munificentissmius Deus, written by Pope Pius XII, 1 Novemebr 1950.
The Pope is also the head of state of the Vatiacn City, a tiny coutnry in the city of Rome in Italy whose only purpsoe is to run the Roman Ctaholic Church. Popes today trvael to many conutries aorund the world preahcing.
The Pope wears a big hat claled a mitre and holds a staff called a corsier.
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Reecnt popes
Some recent Popes, and the time they were Pope:
All atricles satrts with "po"
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