Since the papal election has led to quite a lot of questions and conversations about the papacy in general, here are some rapid-fire questions and answers surrounding the topic of the pope. Please note some of these questions came in before the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Q. Why do we call the pope, “pope”?
A. The formal title of the pope is the Bishop of Rome. In canon law, he is referred to as the Roman Pontiff. Pontiff is derived from pontifex, which is Latin for bridge builder and was a pre-Christian term used to denote who stands as the “bridge” between God and humanity. Pope is derived from the Greek pappas, an affectionate term for father, that then became papa in Latin and eventually pope in English. Initially the term pappas was used for priests, then exclusively for bishops, and then finally exclusively the Bishop of Rome.
Q. Is a pope ordained a pope?
A. No, a pope is elected pope, not ordained a pope. There are only three grades of the Sacrament of Holy Orders (deacon, priest, bishop). The pope is elected the Bishop of Rome and then installed as the Bishop of Rome, both of which are juridic, not sacramental, acts. In early periods of the Church, it could happen that a laymen was elected pope, which would then necessitate he be ordained a deacon, priest, and bishop so that he can occupy the See of Rome as bishop.
Q. Why do popes take a new name?
A. There is the practical historical answer of Mercurius, who was elected pope in 533 and, likely because he felt odd being the Bishop of Rome and having a very pagan name, changed it to John II. Even though popes after him would still sometimes keep their given name, it eventually became the norm. Taking a new name likely became the practice because of the tradition, dating back to Peter, of receiving a new name when called to a new mission. Simon became Peter when Jesus designated him as head of the apostles and now popes take a new name when they become head of the Universal Church.
Q. Could a pope bring back all of the old pope stuff?
A. Depending on what is meant by “pope stuff” (things like the Papal States aren’t coming back), yes. Much of the traditional trappings of the Bishop of Rome do not really mess with the current role of the pope in the world. Reviving the Papal Palanquin (the throne carried on two poles that the pope used to sit on during processions) and the Papal Tiara (the big helmet-looking thing with three crowns on it) would probably send the wrong message. Much of the older papal ornaments and prerogatives were meant to assert the pope’s authority as a temporal ruler, as well as his authority over emperors and kings, which served a purpose in earlier periods of the Church. But I would argue that would not be in line with the current role of the Holy Father.
Q. Could a pope change how papal elections happen?
A. Yes, and many popes have. The Bishop of Rome has been elected by various groups at various times throughout the history of the Church. Laity and clerics would be involved. It was not until 1059 that cardinals became the only papal electors.
Since then, the process has been broadly the same but many popes have tweaked it throughout the centuries, doing things like banning a cardinal from voting for himself (which has been changed and then reinstated and changed again a number of times), and establishing excommunication as the penalty for a cardinal stating who their head of state wants to be pope during the election.
The current format for electing the Bishop of Rome is Universi dominici gregis, which was promulgated by Pope St. John Paul II in 1996. Since the process for electing a Bishop of Rome is merely ecclesiastical law, not dogma, the pope can change it. Maybe a pope will take a page from the Acts of the Apostles and go back to casting lots to elect the Holy Father.
Q. What are the chances of there ever being an American pope?
A. As it turns out, really good.
These questions were answered by Father Caleb La Rue, chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
