Catholic Church

===Holy See, papacy, Roman Curia, and College of Cardinals===
{{Main|Holy See|Pope|Roman Curia|College of Cardinals}}
{{Further|List of popes}}
[[File:Canonization 2014- The Canonization of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II (14036966125).jpg|thumb|left|[[Pope Francis]], the [[List of popes|266th]] and current pope of the Catholic Church, a [[courtesy title|title]] he holds ''[[ex officio]]'' as bishop of Rome and sovereign of Vatican City, was elected in the [[2013 papal conclave]].]]
The [[hierarchy of the Catholic Church]] is headed{{refn|group=note|According to Catholic teaching, Jesus Christ is the 'invisible Head' of the Church<ref>{{cite web|title=Lesson 11: On the Church|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/catechism/baltimore-catechism/lesson-11-on-the-church|publisher=Catholic News Agency|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809120229/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/catechism/baltimore-catechism/lesson-11-on-the-church|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Most|first=William G.|title=The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ|url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/catholic-church-is-the-mystical-body-of-christ-89|website=ewtn.com|publisher=Global Catholic Network|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804083816/https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/catholic-church-is-the-mystical-body-of-christ-89|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Christ's Headship|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/Culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=32529|website=catholicculture.org|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023022220/https://www.catholicculture.org/Culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=32529|url-status=live}}</ref> while the pope is the 'visible Head'.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pope|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm|website=newadvent.org|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007002926/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lumen Gentium|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html|website=The Holy See|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-date=6 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906031754/https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> }} by the pope, currently [[Pope Francis]], who was elected on 13 March 2013 by [[2013 papal conclave|a papal conclave]].<ref name="habemus_papem_2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.news.va/en/news/habemus-papam-cardinal-bergolio-elected-pope|title=Habemus Papam! Cardinal Bergoglio Elected Pope Francis|publisher=News.va|access-date=14 March 2013|archive-date=16 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316043440/http://www.news.va/en/news/habemus-papam-cardinal-bergolio-elected-pope|url-status=dead}}</ref> The office of the pope is known as the ''papacy''. The Catholic Church holds that Christ instituted the papacy upon giving the [[keys of Heaven]] to [[Saint Peter]]. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the Holy See, or the [[Apostolic See]] (meaning the see of the apostle Peter).<ref>{{cite book|first=Jaroslav|last=Pelikan|year=1985|title=Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 4: Reformation of Church and Dogma (1300–1700)|publisher=University of Chicago Press|url={{googlebooks|Qve0IqI5YC|page=114|plainurl=y}}|isbn=978-0-226-65377-8|page=114}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Robert|editor-last=Feduccia|year=2005|title=Primary Source Readings in Catholic Church History|publisher=Saint Mary's Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bkc6gh1JdGkC&pg=PA85|isbn=978-0-88489-868-9|page=85|access-date=31 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310112255/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bkc6gh1JdGkC&pg=PA85|url-status=live}}</ref> Directly serving the pope is the Roman Curia, the central governing body that administers the day-to-day business of the Catholic Church.

The pope is also [[sovereign]] of Vatican City,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/|title=Vatican City State – State and Government|publisher=Vaticanstate.va|access-date=11 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722082631/http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/|archive-date=22 July 2010}}</ref> a small [[city-state]] entirely enclaved within the city of Rome, which is an entity distinct from the Holy See. It is as head of the Holy See, not as head of Vatican City State, that the pope receives ambassadors of states and sends them his own diplomatic representatives.<ref>{{cite web|work=British Foreign and Commonwealth Office|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/|title=Country Profile: Vatican City State/Holy See {{!}} Travel and Living Abroad|date=27 February 2012|access-date=26 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231084624/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/|archive-date=31 December 2010}}</ref> The Holy See also confers [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See|orders, decorations and medals]], such as the [[orders of chivalry]] originating from the [[Middle Ages]].

While the famous [[Saint Peter's Basilica]] is located in Vatican City, above the traditional site of [[Saint Peter's tomb]], the papal cathedral for the Diocese of Rome is the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]], located within the city of Rome, though enjoying [[extraterritorial]] privileges accredited to the Holy See.

The position of [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] is a rank of honour bestowed by popes on certain clerics, such as leaders within the Roman Curia, bishops serving in major cities and distinguished theologians. For advice and assistance in governing, the pope may turn to the [[College of Cardinals]].<ref name="McDonough227">McDonough (1995), p. 227</ref>

Following the death or resignation of a pope,{{refn|The last resignation occurred on 28 February 2013, when [[Pope Benedict XVI]] retired, citing ill health in his advanced age. The next most recent resignation occurred in 1415, as part of the [[Council of Constance]]'s resolution of the [[Avignon Papacy]].<ref name=duffy415>Duffy (1997), p. 415</ref>|group=note}} members of the College of Cardinals who are under age 80 act as an [[electoral college]], meeting in a [[papal conclave]] to elect a successor.<ref name="duffy416">Duffy (1997), p. 416</ref> Although the conclave may elect any male Catholic as pope, since 1389 only cardinals have been elected.<ref name="duffy417and18">Duffy (1997), pp. 417–418</ref>