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Papal Facts and Trivia

Who appointed the first pope?

The Pope is St. Peter’s successor, and the bishops are successors of the apostles. The Lord made Peter the “rock” of his Church. He made him shepherd of the whole flock. (This fresco depicts Jesus “handing the keys” to Peter.)

” And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Mt. 16:18-19).

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." (Jn. 21: 15-19)
This pastoral office of Peter and the bishops belongs to the Church’s very foundation. (CCC 880-881)

Is there any evidence for the succession of the first popes after St. Peter and who they were?

Among many historical references to those who followed St. Peter as pope are these: In the year A.D. 189 Irenaeus wrote in his work Against Heresies: “ The blessed apostles [Peter and Paul], having founded and built up the church [of Rome] . . . handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus" (Against Heresies 3:3:3 [A.D. 189]).
Eusebius, an early Church historian, wrote in his Church History: "Victor . . . was the thirteenth bishop of Rome from Peter" (The Little Labyrinth [A.D. 211], in Eusebius, Church History 5:28:3).

In a document, Medicine Chest Against All Heresies, Epiphanius of Salamis wrote: "At Rome the first apostles and bishops were Peter and Paul, then Linus, then Cletus, then Clement, the contemporary of Peter and Paul" (Medicine Chest Against All Heresies 27:6 [A.D. 375]).

(The bronze statue featured here is a statue of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.)

Has there ever been another Pope Peter?

There is a tradition that popes, when they are elected, change their names. It is said to have originated from Sergius IV (1009-1012). The story is told that his name was Peter di Porca and he changed it, considering that it would not be right to be called Peter II. Actually prior to this, some popes had changed their names when it was of pagan origin. In 533 John II changed his name since his given name was Mercury, the name of a pagan deity. The tradition of changing names allows popes to honor a previous pope of that name or signal a vision or style. Pope John Paul I chose a double name, putting together the two popes that had gone before him. John Paul II signaled respect for John Paul I who had reigned only 33 days, as well as a style he wished to continue.

Does the pope have any supernatural help for his office?

Peter was a frail disciple of Jesus, but thanks to the prayer of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Peter no longer had to rely on his human strength. Though of himself he had been shifting sand, he had become rock. In a deeper sense, Christ was the rock who had built the church on Peter. The pope today experiences his own frailty and yet the strength of Jesus sustaining him in his office through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Does the pope take the place of Christ on earth?

The Pope is called the Vicar of Christ, which does not mean that he takes the place of Christ, but rather that Christ is faithful to his promise, “I will be with you all days, even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
St. Ambrose of Milan wrote in A.D. 389: "It is to Peter that Jesus says: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church’ [Matt. 16:18]. Where Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church is, no death is there, but life eternal" (Commentary on Twelve Psalms of David 40:30 [A.D. 389]).

What does infallibility mean?

The pope is the bishop of Rome and pastor of the entire Church. Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task “to preach the Gospel of God to all,” in keeping with the Lord’s command. They are “heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are “authentic teachers” of the apostolic faith “endowed with the authority of Christ.” In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility. By a “supernatural sense of faith,” the People of God, under the guidance of the Church’s living Magisterium, “unfailingly adheres to this faith.” It is the Magisterium’s task to guarantee the faithful the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error.

The pope, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful—who confirms his brethren in the faith—he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. What is defined extends as far as the deposit of revelation.

When the Magisterium proposes a doctrine for belief as being divinely revealed and as the teaching of the faith, the definitions must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.

This infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium, above all in an Ecumenical Council.

In a particular way divine assistance is given to the pope when he proposes a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals. Though this teaching is not an infallible definition pronounced in a definitive manner, it requires the religious assent of Catholics. (CCC 890, 891)

Can a person write to the Pope?

Letters to Pope John Paul II have set the record for the amount of correspondence addressed to the Holy Father. He receives letters from heads of state in diplomatic pouches, letters delivered to him through Swiss Guards, through the mail or e-mail. Most recently, hundreds of thousands of e-mails were sent to the Vatican, during his final illness. All letters are given to the Pope but responses come from the Secretariat of State. It takes nine priests working full-time to read, summarize and respond to English-language letters. On his 25 th anniversary, John Paul II received so many e-mails congratulating him that an expression of his gratitude was posted as a pop-up on the Vatican website: www.vatican.va.

Are pope’s crowned any more?

Until John Paul I decided against it, the ceremony of installation of the pope, which takes place about a week after his election, used to be a coronation. John Paul I and John Paul II preferred a simple outdoor Mass to mark the beginning of their mission as Supreme Pastor.

Does the pope have a general “job description”?

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church the pope’s “job” is described in these words: “ The Roman Pontiff [the Pope] and the bishops are ‘authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice.’ The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for.” (CCC 2034)

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