Black and White Smoke after a Pope DiesPeter's Square when a new Pope is elected. Black smoke, or fumata nera, is sent out to inform the world that the Pope has died.
Pope. The episcopal ring of the pope is known as the "Ring of the Fisherman" (Latin: Annulus Piscatoris). Originally the pope's episcopal ring as the Bishop of Rome, it has since become a symbol of papal authority.
Most extant papal tombs are located in St. Peter's Basilica, other major churches of Rome (especially Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Maria sopra Minerva and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore), or other churches of Italy, France, and Germany.
Is the Pope supposed to be virgin? No. It's not a requirement, nor does it even come up. The Pope must be a priest, and a priest should be committed to living chastity, but whether or not that priest was a virgin before ordination, or before being elected Pope, is beside the point.
The Fisherman's Ring is a signet used until 1842 to seal official documents signed by the Pope. Since at least the Middle Ages it has been a tradition for Catholics meeting the Pope to show their devotion by kissing the ring.
Although much about the early popes remains shrouded in darkness, scholars agree that the bishops of Rome were selected in the same manner as other bishops—that is, elected by the clergy and people of the area (though there is some evidence that some of the early bishops attempted to appoint their successors).
Popes are chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials, who are appointed by the Pope and usually ordained bishops. They are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican which is followed by the Papal election - or Conclave. The maximum number of cardinal electors is 120.
Vatican officials said the pope's body, encased in three caskets, had been buried close to the spot believed to contain the remains of Peter, the apostle chosen by Jesus Christ to found his church.
What does the Pope do all day? The Pope's daily routine is fairly normal, all things considered. He wakes up early, celebrates mass, and eats surprisingly unfussy meals – though he apparently longs to nosh on pizza. Outside of his public engagements, the day-to-day schedule of the Pope is essentially up to him.
Throughout Church history, the color red has been deliberately chosen to represent the blood of Catholic martyrs spilt through the centuries following in the footsteps of Christ. The red shoes also symbolize the submission of the Pope to the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ.
How old is Pope Benedict now?
93 years (April 16, 1927)
Benedict has lived at a monastery in the Vatican City since shortly after his retirement. Elected to the papacy in 2005 to succeed St. John Paul II, the former Joseph Ratzinger was the first pontiff in 600 years to resign the post. He was succeeded by Pope Francis.
If he later comes out of his coma, he would be a retired (emeritus) pope. There are only two ways to remove a Pope and these are death or resignation. The Pope cannot be removed by any other way.
Pope Paul VI, quoted by John Paul in Ordinatio sacerdotalis, wrote, "The Church holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons.
His worth is estimated to be around $25 to $28 million. This number varies with different estimations. Moreover, Pope Francis holds control of various assets in the Vatican. These assets do not add up to his net worth.
The papal ring is one of the most powerful symbols of the pontiff's authority. It is worn on the right hand, and kissing it is a sign of obedience and respect. It is a tradition dating back hundreds of years.
There have been at least four Popes who were legally married before taking Holy Orders: St Hormisdas (514–523), Adrian II (867–872), John XVII (1003) and Clement IV (1265–68) – though Hormisdas was already a widower by the time of his election.
Roman Catholic tradition holds that Jesus established St. Peter as the first pope (Matthew 16:18). Jesus also gave him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19), which is why he is often depicted at the gates of heaven in art and popular culture.
A number of them had offspring. The Second Lateran Council (1139) made the promise to remain celibate a prerequisite to ordination, abolishing the
married priesthood.
Popes who were legally married.
| Name | Felix III |
|---|
| Reign(s) | (483–492) |
|---|
| Relationship | Widowed before he was elected as pope |
|---|
| Offspring | Yes |
|---|
In a rare interview granted in the months following the very public split, Benedict told Italian magazine Corriere Della Sera that there is currently only one pope, Francis.
Pope Linus
| Pope Saint Linus |
|---|
| Papacy ended | c. AD 76 |
| Predecessor | Saint Peter |
| Successor | Anacletus |
| Orders |
The papal post is traditionally held until death, though Francis's predecessor Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 after roughly seven years in office, becoming the first pope to step down in nearly 600 years. The current Pope has suggested in the past that he would lead a short papacy and he has not ruled out retiring.
Papal supremacy is the doctrine of the Catholic Church that the Pope, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, the visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful, and as pastor of the entire Catholic Church, has full, supreme, and universal power over the
Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head. The Vatican mints its own euros, prints its own stamps, issues passports and license plates, operates media outlets and has its own flag and anthem. One government function it lacks: taxation.
The pope was originally chosen by those senior clergymen resident in and near Rome. The pope does not need to be a Cardinal Elector or indeed a Cardinal; however, since the pope is the Bishop of Rome, only those who can be ordained a bishop can be elected, which means that any male baptized Catholic is eligible.
The Vatican Palace in the Vatican City is the official residence of the Pope of the Catholic Church. Although, it is not only the Pope who resides there, officials and other members working within its walls serve a number of jobs relating to the church.
The modern guard
has the role of bodyguard of the
Pope. The Swiss Guard are equipped with traditional weapons, such as the halberd, as well as with modern firearms.
Swiss Guard.
| Pontifical Swiss Guard |
|---|
| Country | Vatican City Papal States |
| Allegiance | The Pope |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry guards |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Ever since Benedict XVI announced he would become the first pope in 600 years to resign, Catholic theologians, canon lawyers and others warned of the potential confusion in having two popes living side by side in the Vatican, one reigning, the other retired but calling himself “emeritus pope” and
The Pope has a personal army - and they dress funnyKnown officially as the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the small army of around 135 Swiss soldiers based in the Vatican is responsible for the safety of the Pope.
Let's start with the basics: The pope emeritus will receive a monthly pension of 2,500 euros, according to Italian newspaper La Stampa. That translates to almost $3,300, or close to the monthly maximum of $3,350 that Social Security will pay to an American who retires this year.
