What is the succession of the popes?

Catholicism teaches that each pope is the successor to the Apostle Peter who was chosen by Jesus as the rock on which the church was to be built. Because of the role allotted of the Holy Spirit, each pope after Saint Peter is said to stand in a chain called the Apostolic Succession.

Does the pope have absolute authority?

The pope, when he is elected, is answerable to no human power. He has absolute authority over the entire Roman Catholic Church, direct authority that reaches down to individual members. In the Roman Catholic Church, the office of pope includes the three main offices of government.

Who is in charge when pope dies?

camerlengo
The death of a pope puts into motion a formal, age-old process that includes certifying his death, arranging for the body to lie in state, organizing a funeral and preparing for the election of a successor. The pope’s chief of staff, or camerlengo, is in charge of all arrangements. The camerlengo: 1.

Can a pope be autopsied?

Only a handful of Popes have died in the modern autopsy-era, but a LOT of people wanted an autopsy after Pope John Paul the First died after only 28 days (IIRC). If you watch TV, you might think that autopsies are common. They are not. They don’t happen without a good reason.

Is the pope like a king?

Because though King and Pope are two different roles, they just happen to be occupied by the same person at the same time — which has the funny consequence that, because the Pope is elected and the King is all-powerful but they’re the same guy it makes Vatican City the world’s only elected, non-hereditary absolute …

Can the pope sin?

So according to Catholicism, an immoral pope (you’ll find several in Church history) can sin like any man and will answer to God for his evil deeds. However, as supreme head of the Church, the pope retains his infallibility on matters of faith and morals as long as he remains pope.

What happens to the pope’s body when he died?

According to experts, the pope’s body is likely to be embalmed and then exposed for the veneration of the faithful – most likely in St. Peter’s Basilica. Tradition calls for nine days of mourning during which there is a papal interregnum, or interval during which the Catholic Church is without a spiritual leader.

Is there a succession process in the Catholic Church?

The February 2013 resignation of Pope Benedict XVI set in motion a succession process for the Roman Catholic Church that dates to the Middle Ages. Cardinals gathering in a conclave will cast votes for the next leader of the one-billion-member church amid unusual circumstances.

When was the last time there was a papal succession?

There have been papal conclaves in times of crisis before, such as in 1914 and 1939 on the brink of world wars, but rarely has a papal succession occurred with such internal scandal, says Rev. Robert Wister, a professor of church history at Seton Hall University. What are the main election criteria for the cardinals?

Who is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church?

A nun looks at front pages showing newly elected Pope at a newsstand near the Vatican. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, was elected the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.

What is the prophecy of the popes in Latin?

The Prophecy of the Popes (Latin: Prophetia Sancti Malachiae Archiepiscopi, de Summis Pontificibus) is a series of 112 short, cryptic phrases in Latin which purport to predict the Roman Catholic popes (along with a few antipopes), beginning with Pope Celestine II.