What is the Pope? Understanding the Papacy and why it matters today.

In the days following the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, all eyes in the world turned once again toward the Vatican. The Francis’ final days, the solemnity of his funeral, and the election of his successor, Pope Leo XIV, have reignited conversation about the papacy. What does it mean to be Pope? Why does the world pause when the Bishop of Rome speaks, or when that spiritual father dies? And perhaps most pressing of all: does the Pope still matter in today’s fast-paced, secularized society?

As both a religious office and a cultural symbol, the papacy sits at the intersection of history, faith, diplomacy, and global ethics. In this post we will explore what the papacy is, its historical origins, and why, even now under the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, it remains profoundly relevant.

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which counts over 1.3 billion adherents across every continent. It is important to remember that Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination on earth, equaling almost 50% of all Christians on earth. But the papacy is not just a symbolic role or ceremonial office. It is rooted in an ancient theological claim: that the Pope is the successor to Saint Peter, the Apostle whom Jesus commissioned to shepherd the early Christian community with the words, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).

This succession is both spiritual and institutional. From the early Church to the modern age, Catholics have looked to the Pope for unity in doctrine, leadership in crisis, and moral authority in times of confusion. The papacy is a central feature of Catholic identity, theology, and structure. It binds together a vast and diverse global Church under one pastoral voice. In Catholic theology, the Church rests on three legs: Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Papacy. Without one of the legs, the rest falls apart. The voice of the Pope is important, as he is the Bishop of all Bishops.

Yet the influence of the papacy extends far beyond the walls of St. Peter’s Basilica. Popes speak to issues of justice, human dignity, environmental care, and global peace. They meet with world leaders, address the United Nations, and weigh in on moral issues from war to poverty. The papacy is as much a public voice of conscience as it is a guardian of Christian tradition.

The story of the papacy begins in the Roman Empire. Saint Peter, believed to be the first Pope, was martyred in Rome around 64–67 AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. For the next several centuries, his successors led a persecuted Church, often meeting in secret, writing letters of encouragement to scattered Christians, and facing martyrdom themselves.

As Christianity became legalized and then institutionalized under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, the Bishop of Rome emerged as a prominent spiritual figure. Over time, particularly during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Pope assumed not only spiritual leadership but also became a stabilizing civil figure in the chaos of medieval Europe.

The papacy has seen moments of great glory and scandal. Pope Leo the Great defended Rome from invading armies and articulated the theological framework of Christ’s nature. Pope Gregory VII clashed with kings to assert the Church’s independence from secular control. The Renaissance popes, powerful and often controversial, wielded influence in both art and politics. The Protestant Reformation challenged papal authority, leading to deep divisions within Christendom that persist to this day.

In the modern era, popes have continued to shape the moral conversation of the world. Pope Pius IX oversaw the First Vatican Council and the dogma of papal infallibility in 1870. Pope John Paul II became a global force for peace and human rights, playing a key role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. And Pope Francis, elected in 2013, emphasized mercy, care for the poor, interfaith dialogue, and creation stewardship. His recent passing marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter with Pope Leo XIV, whose early messages suggest a vision of humility, doctrinal clarity, and renewed missionary zeal.

In a secular age shaped by skepticism toward institutions, many might assume the papacy has lost its voice. Yet that assumption misses the enduring power of what the papacy represents: a consistent moral authority rooted not in political power, but in spiritual and theological conviction. The Pope is not merely a religious leader; he is a global symbol, as can be seen by the widespread attention garnered in the media by the newest papal election.

Today’s world is increasingly fragmented. The papacy offers something rare: continuity. Where so many voices shift with the cultural wind, the Pope speaks from a tradition that spans two millennia. Whether addressing climate change, the dignity of human life, or the migration crisis, the papal voice carries weight precisely because it does not belong to one nation, party, or ideology, it belongs to a tradition grounded in Scripture, sacrament, and a vision of human flourishing under God.

Pope Leo XIV inherits not only the shoes of the fisherman named Peter, but also a world in desperate need of shepherding. His role will involve confronting secularism in the West and the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and economic injustice. His leadership—like that of his predecessors—will influence how millions understand what it means to be human, to be moral, and to be hopeful.

In a time when global attention is short and headlines fade quickly, the death of one Pope and the election of another still makes the world pause. That fact alone speaks to the enduring significance of the papacy. To understand the Pope is to understand a living connection to ancient Christianity, a moral beacon in modern chaos, and a spiritual figure whose words still echo across borders and belief systems.

The papacy is not an outdated institution, it remains as relevant today as it did in the first centuries of Christendom. And as Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, it’s worth remembering that the Pope does not claim perfection, but he does claim purpose. A purpose to lead the people of God, speak the Gospel truth to all audiences, and to champion the coming Kingdom of God. And that purpose, rooted in Christ, is what continues to draw the world’s attention to the white-robed man on the balcony.