A pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. He is also known by titles such as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff

. The pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, who was appointed by Jesus and considered the "rock" upon which the Church was built

. The pope holds supreme authority in matters of faith, morals, church discipline, and governance over the Catholic Church globally

. The pope also serves as the head of state of Vatican City, a sovereign city- state established in 1929, which is the spiritual and administrative center of the Catholic Church

. The office of the pope is called the papacy, and the jurisdiction of his episcopal see is known as the Holy See

. Popes are elected by the College of Cardinals, who convene in a conclave after a pope dies or resigns. While theoretically any Catholic male can be elected pope, in practice the pope is chosen from among the cardinals, and if the elected person is not already a bishop, he is immediately ordained

. Once elected, the pope usually serves for life unless he voluntarily resigns, as Pope Benedict XVI did in 2013

. The pope's role includes spiritual leadership, teaching on faith and morals, leading religious celebrations, diplomatic missions, and representing the Holy See internationally

. The current pope, as of May 2025, is Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, elected on May 8, 2025