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  1. The Bible
  2. The Trinity
  3. Creation
  4. The life of Jesus
  5. The incarnation
  6. The Pope and the role of the papacy

The Pope and the role of the papacy

The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome.

  • The Pope is believed by Catholics to be the direct successor of St Peter, who was the leader of the apostles. This is why they accept his authority.
  • The current pope is Pope Francis.
  • The office of the pope is referred to as the papacy.
  • Other Christians, such as Protestants, do not accept the authority of the pope.
Image caption, Pope Francis is the current pope, believed by Catholics to be Saint Peter's successor

Why is the papacy important for Catholics?

The papacy is an additional source of authority for Catholics. While many Catholics often turn to theBible for guidance, they are also able to turn to the teachings of the pope.

The pope is important as he represents a direct line back to Jesus. In this sense, Catholics see Jesus as being present in the papacy.

The papacy has been very politically active throughout history. One aim of the modern papacy is to tackle injustice and poverty.

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination within Christianity. This means the papacy plays a significant role in how Christianity is perceived globally.

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