What does a pope do?
VATICAN CITY - With Pope Francis laid to rest, the world's cardinals will soon gather in Rome to elect a successor. So what exactly does a pope do?
Here is a rundown of the main responsibilities of the pontiff, the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.
CATHOLIC LEADER
The word pope comes from the Greek "pappas", which means "father, patriarch," which is why believers call him the Holy Father.
He is considered the successor of St Peter, to whom Jesus Christ is said to have entrusted the mission of leading the Church.
Today, this makes the pope the spiritual guide of the estimated 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
His role is to preserve, interpret and teach the Christian faith, as well as ensuring the unity of the Catholic Church.
HEAD OF STATE
The pope is head of state and also ruler of the tiny Vatican City state, the smallest in the world at just 44 hectares, located within the Italian capital of Rome.
He exercises absolute power in all areas, from hiring and firing to decisions on the Vatican's extensive property portfolio, but he delegates much to senior clergy.
The pope has his own diplomats but often meets world leaders at the Vatican, in what are known as private audiences.
MORAL GUIDE
The pope has influence well beyond the world's Catholics, as a pre-eminent moral voice on the global stage.
Many non-Catholic leaders seek an audience at the Vatican, while his pronouncements often carry more weight than those of many elected politicians.
The Vatican has a non-member observer status at the United Nations and is often called in as a neutral party in conflict zones.
DOCTRINE AND TEACHING
Through his homilies and written texts, Pope Francis provided guidance on everything from daily life -- for example, urging against gossip -- to weighty doctrinal issues.
He published several encyclicals, open letters written by the pope to the Church worldwide, covering subjects such as social friendship or climate change.
Other formal texts include apostolic exhortations, which are teaching documents, and the motu proprio, which means "by his own motion" and is a legal change delivered on the pope's initiative.
During his time as pope, Francis paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples, restricted the use of the Latin Mass and took measures to combat sexual abuse of children by clergy.
APPOINTMENTS
The pope approves the appointment of bishops, the approximately 3,000 clergy who lead Catholic dioceses around the world, and also cardinals.
Cardinals, sometimes known as princes of the church, are the most senior clergy and those under the age of 80 can vote in the election of a new pope.
The pope also has the final say in elevating individuals to become "blessed" or a "saint", following an investigation conducted on the grounds of miracles and virtues.
He has the power to convene Synods -- worldwide gatherings that Francis opened to lay people for the first time -- to discuss specific issues.
TRAVEL
The pope travels to connect with the faithful around the world.
John Paul II conducted the most apostolic voyages, counting 104 visits abroad in 26 years as pope.
Francis followed with 47, using the visits to shine a spotlight on marginalised communities or issues he wanted to highlight, such as migration or inter-religious dialogue.
BISHOP OF ROME
As Bishop of Rome, the pope is responsible for administering his diocese. The constraints on his time mean that this is in fact, delegated to a Vicar General.
The pope, however, takes part in local events, regularly visiting churches in Rome for celebrations or other symbolic sites in the city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
What is genocide and is it happening in Gaza?
Rights groups, lawyers and some governments are describing the Gaza war as "genocide" and calling for a ceasefire but Israel, created in the aftermath of the Nazi Holocaust of Jews, vehemently rejects the explosive term. Israel says it is seeking to wipe out Gaza's Islamist rulers and free its hostages still held in the occupied Palestinian coastal strip since the Hamas militant attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. But Israel's devastating war on Gaza -- largely populated by descendants of Palestinian refugees who were expelled from or fled what became Israeli land in 1948 -- has killed tens of thousands of civilians and sparked growing global outrage. The accusation against Israel of genocide has been made with increasing force from quarters ranging from "Schindler's List" star Ralph Fiennes to Amnesty International and some Israeli historians. What does the legal term really mean and who can decide whether it applies? What is 'genocide'? The word genocide -- derived from the Greek word "genos", for race or tribe, and "cide", from the Latin for "to kill" -- was coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin. Lemkin, a Polish Jew who had fled to the United States, used it to describe the crimes committed by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. It was used for the first time within a legal framework by an international military tribunal at Nuremberg to try Nazi leaders for their crimes in 1945. However, those accused were eventually convicted on charges of crimes against humanity. It has been recognised within international law since 1948 and the advent of the UN Genocide Convention. That text defines genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group". These five acts include killing members of the group, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, imposing living conditions intended to destroy the group, preventing births and forcibly transferring children out of the group. Regardless of the definition, the qualification of "genocide" has been hugely sensitive over the decades. What is happening in Gaza? Israel's military offensive on Gaza since October 2023 has killed 54,677 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the occupied Palestinian territory. The United Nations has said the territory's entire population of more than two million people is at risk of famine, even if Israel said last month it was partially easing the complete blockade on aid it imposed on Gaza on March 2. Despite international calls for an end to the war, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains elusive. The latest war started after Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages seized, 55 remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. Who speaks of 'genocide' in Gaza? In December 2023, South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' highest judicial organ, alleging that Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel denies the accusation. In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to "prevent" acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine. While no court has so far ruled the ongoing conflict is a genocide, human rights groups and international law experts -- including several who are Israeli -- have used the term to describe it. Amnesty International has accused Israel of carrying out a "live-streamed genocide" in Gaza, while Human Rights Watch has alleged it is responsible for "acts of genocide". A UN committee in November found Israel's warfare in Gaza was "consistent with the characteristics of genocide". And a UN investigation concluded in March that Israel carried out "genocidal acts" in Gaza through the destruction of the strip's main IVF clinic and other reproductive healthcare facilities. Omer Bartov, an Israeli scholar of the Holocaust, wrote in August last year that "Israel was engaged in systematic war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal actions". Fellow Israeli historians Amos Goldberg and Daniel Blatman in January co-wrote an article in which they said: "Israel is indeed committing genocide in Gaza." Western governments have largely refrained from using the word, with France's President Emmanuel Macron saying it was not up to a "political leader to use to term but up to historians to do so when the time comes". But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used it, while Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused Israel of "premeditated genocide". What does Israel say? Israel alleges it is exercising its right to security and "self defence", an argument echoed by its staunch ally the United States. Israel has dismissed accusations of genocide as "blatant lies" and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the UN Human Rights Council of being "an antisemitic, corrupt, terror-supporting and irrelevant body". He has said UN experts should instead focus on "crimes against humanity and the war crimes committed by the Hamas terrorist organisation in the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust", referring to October 7. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in November issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel's war in Gaza -- including starvation as a method of warfare. It also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif over allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the October 7 attack, but the case against him was dropped in February after confirmation Israel had killed him. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan also initially sought warrants against Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but dropped those applications after their deaths in Israeli attacks. Who decides and when? Thijs Bouwknegt, a genocide expert, said the Israeli policy in Gaza seemed to be "designed to make a civilian population either perish or leave" but a court would have to decide if it was genocide. "It bears the hallmarks of it but we still have to wait and see whether it actually was," said the historian, who has conducted research for the ICC and observed trials over genocide in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. In the case of Rwanda, in which the United Nations said extremist Hutus killed some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994, it took a decade for the International Criminal Tribunal to conclude genocide had happened. It was not until 2007 that the ICJ recognised as genocide the murder by Bosnian Serb forces of almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995 during the Bosnian war. "The threshold for genocide is nearly impossible to meet," Bouwknegt explained. "You have to prove that there was an intent and that there was the only possible explanation for what happened." Has there been intent? French-Israeli lawyer Omer Shatz said "there is no doubt that war crimes, crimes against humanity are being committed" in Gaza. But the international law expert agreed intent was more difficult to prove. That is why, after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, he filed a report with the court in December arguing they were among eight Israeli officials responsible for "incitement to genocide in Gaza". "If incitement is established, that establishes intent," he told AFP. His 170-page report lists such alleged incitements, including Gallant at the start of the war saying Israel was fighting "human animals" in Gaza and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urging "total extermination" in the Palestinian territory. It cites President Isaac Herzog failing to differentiate between Palestinian militants and civilians when he spoke of "an entire nation out there that is responsible" for the October 7 attack. Mathilde Philip-Gay, an international law expert, said it was ultimately up to a judge to decide on whether the genocide label applied. But, she warned: "International law cannot stop a war." "The judiciary will intervene after the war. The qualification (of genocide) is very important for victims but it will come later," she said. What now? The 1948 Genocide Convention says signatories can call on UN organs "to take such action... for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide". But while it implies they should act to stop any such crime from occurring, it does not detail how. Activists have called for an arms embargo and sanctions against Israel. The European Union last month ordered a review of its cooperation deal with Israel and Britain halted trade talks with the government. But the United States and Germany, two major weapons suppliers, are not likely to want to review their relationship with Israel.
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Brazil's Lula urges Macron to seal Mercosur trade deal
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to "finalise" an EU trade deal with four South American countries, in a visit that underscored key policy differences between the two allies. France has opposed ratifying the so-called Mercosur agreement, a trade deal between the European Union and four South American nations including Brazil, over fears a flow of lower-cost agricultural goods would outcompete Europe's farmers. "Open your heart a little to this opportunity to finalise this agreement with our dear Mercosur," Lula said during a state visit to Paris. "This agreement would be the strongest response our regions could offer in the face of the uncertainty caused by the return of unilateralism and tariff protectionism," he added, referring to sweeping tariffs imposed or threatened by US President Donald Trump. Trump, who argues that his tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, has hit the EU with multiple waves of levies. For his part, Macron reiterated his concerns about the deal's impact on French farmers, citing differences in environmental regulations between the EU and Mercosur countries. "I don't know how to explain to my farmers that, at a time when I am asking them to comply with more standards, I am opening up my market on a massive scale to people who do not comply at all," Macron said. "Because what will happen? It won't be better for the climate, but we will completely destroy our agriculture," he added. "That is why I said earlier we must improve this deal." Germany, Spain, Portugal and others have welcomed the accord with Mercosur bloc members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but France has said from the start it is not acceptable in its current form. To be approved, the deal must receive the backing of at least 15 of the 27 EU states, representing a minimum of 65 percent of the population. -'Premeditated genocide'- This marks the first state visit to France by a Brazilian president since 2012, and comes just months ahead of the United Nations' COP30 climate conference, which Brazil will host in November. POOL/AFP | Christophe PETIT TESSON While both Macron and Lula praised the strong ties between France and Brazil, Thursday's press conference highlighted diverging views over the war in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lula accused Israel of carrying out "premeditated genocide" in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. "(It is) a premeditated genocide from a far-right government that is waging a war against the interests of its own people," he said at the joint press conference with Macron. While Lula has previously used the term "genocide", Macron has refused to, saying last month it was not for a "political leader to use to term but up to historians to do so when the time comes". France is due later this month to co-host with Saudi Arabia a United Nations conference in New York on a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Macron said that he expected the conference would take steps "towards recognising Palestine", without being more specific. Brazil recognised a Palestinian state in 2010. -'Aggressor, victim'- On the war in Ukraine, Macron stressed that Kyiv and Moscow should not be treated as equals, in contrast to Brazil's proclaimed neutral stance on the conflict. "There is an aggressor, which is Russia. There is a victim, which is Ukraine. We all want peace, but we cannot treat the two belligerents equally," said Macron, stressing that Brazil had "a very important role to play" in finding a solution to the conflict. Lula said he hoped to reinforce Brazil's ties with Russia during his May 9 trip to Moscow, where he was marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany alongside some two dozen other world leaders. "My visit here is to strengthen and rebuild our strategic partnership," Lula said during a meeting where he exchanged a hug with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The European Union warned its members not to travel to Moscow for the event. France has been one of the most vocal supporters of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. By Toni CerdÀ, Cécille Feuillatre And Erin Flanagan
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
The political struggles and aspirations of disabled youth in South Africa
SEDIBENG.- June, despite its winterisation in South Africa, remains a month of reflection and action, dedicated to the youth who have historically shaped the nation's political and social landscape. The definition of youth remains contested both globally and locally. While the United Nations generally defines youth as individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, South Africa's National Youth Policy broadly defines youth as persons between the ages of 14 and 35. These differences often stem from varying socio-economic contexts and developmental priorities. The UN's definition is often linked to global demographic trends and the transition from adolescence to early adulthood, while South Africa's broader age range acknowledges the extended period many young people face in terms of education, employment, and economic independence, often due to historical disadvantages. These differences also highlight the complex intersection of developmental, political, and cultural factors influencing the concept of youth in South Africa. Looking back, the youth of 1976 in South Africa, facing oppressive apartheid policies, fought for the right to express themselves freely, particularly through language and education. The Soweto Uprising, driven by student protests against the enforcement of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, epitomized their quest for liberation and cultural affirmation. These courageous youths defied systemic barriers, risking their lives for the fundamental right to learn and speak in their own languages. The protest escalated into a nationwide movement for freedom. Many young people were killed, and some were maimed, permanently disabled by the state's violence. This group of politically conscious survivors laid the groundwork for the South African disability rights movement of 1984. Far from passive victims, these youth transformed their personal trauma into political action. They understood that disability was not just a medical condition but a consequence of structural violence and systemic exclusion. Their activism reflected a growing awareness that the fight for liberation could not ignore those disabled by the very system it sought to overthrow. These youth redefined disability as both a political and social issue, demanding recognition not only of physical access but also of voice, representation, and dignity. Within the disabled youth, however, there exists a significant divide, not just between those who attend special schools versus mainstream schools, but also in perceptions of identity and community. Special schools often promote a sense of community rooted in shared experiences of disability, whereas mainstream schools can foster integration but also feelings of marginalization. This concealed disunity undermines the collective strength needed for advocacy, potentially leading disabled youth to realize, in adulthood, that being labeled 'disabled' is more than a health condition, it is an identity rooted in social barriers and societal perceptions. Recognizing this, the fight for a barrier-free society must encompass both educational and societal reforms that unite all disabled youth under common goals. The disabled youth of today must seize both educational and vocational opportunities to empower themselves and shape their future. Examples of educational opportunities include pursuing higher education in various fields such as law, science, arts, or technology, often with the support of disability units in universities and colleges. Vocational opportunities encompass skills training in areas like IT, graphic design, entrepreneurship, trades, and various forms of self-employment. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to expand the 'disability intelligentsia', a body of knowledge and thought leadership driven by disabled individuals themselves. This means fostering critical thinking and research among disabled youth, enabling them to contribute to the development of new models of disability. While the medical model views disability as an individual deficit to be 'fixed,' and the social model frames disability as a result of societal barriers, there is a clear need for a synthesis. This hybrid model would acknowledge the diverse lived experiences of disabled individuals, recognizing both the biological realities of impairment and the profound impact of societal structures. In conclusion, youth remains a dynamic, flexible stage of life, capable of leaving lasting legacies for future generations. The resilience, activism, and innovation of disabled youth will significantly shape South Africa's journey toward an inclusive society. Their collective efforts can dismantle barriers, both physical and societal, and redefine what it means to have a disability in a free and equitable environment. As history has shown, when empowered, youth can be the catalysts for profound social transformation, an inheritance that continues to inspire generations to come. (Lucky Tumahole is a Disability Advocate, this is his opinion) At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
