Facts you should know about the Pope

New Delhi: The word 'pope' is derived from the Latin word 'papa' meaning father. In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter, the Apostle. St Peter was named by Jesus Christ as the shepherd and rock of the Catholic Church. The Pope is also the head of state of Vatican City, a sovereign city-state within the Italian capital of Rome. Popes in ancient times helped in the spread of Chritianity and the resolution of doctrinal disputes. In the Middle Ages, they worked as arbitrators between christian kings. Presently, the pope are dedicated to ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, charitable work and the defence of human rights. The first pope in recorded history is Pope Heraclas of Alexandria (232-248 AD). from the sixth century, the title Pope began to be used only for the Bishop of Rome. For centuries, from 1378 onwards, those elected as Pope were predominantly Italians. In 1522, Pope Adrian VI was a non-Italian, since he hailed from Netherlands. Pope John Paul II was originally Karol Wojtyla from Poland, and the current Pope Benedict XVI originally hails from Germany. The person holding the office of Pope is always male. Although there have been rumors to the contrary, a priest who has risen through the ranks to the status of a cardinal, and well-versed in theological doctrine and dogma is elected the Pope by the Sacred College of Cardinals. Historically, with one or two probable exceptions, the pope has always been white — there were three popes from Africa, but their races are not certain. The papacy is one of the most enduring institutions in the world and has had a prominent part in human history. Throughout the ages, the papacy has been marred with violence, scandal, and even murder. Popes have gradually been forced to give up temporal power, and papal authority is now almost exclusively restricted to matters of religion. In modern times, the pope's role in the world has been more divine than practical. He is seen as a spiritual guide rather than a religious monarch, although he still wields quite a significant influence over the morality of millions of Catholics in the world.