Pope

The Pope (from Latin language papa; from Greek language πάππας (pappas), a child's word for father) is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church (which is composed of the Latin Rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the see of Rome). The current office-holder is His Holiness, the Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected in a papal conclave on 19 April 2005.

The office of the pope is known as the Papacy. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction is often called the "Holy See" (Sancta Sedes in Latin), or the "Apostolic See" based upon the Church tradition of the martyrdom of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Rome. The pope is also head of state of Vatican City State, a sovereign city-state entirely enclaved within the city of Rome.