Pope

== Politics of the Holy See ==
{{Politics of the Holy See}}
[[File:433px-Pope Pius VII.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Pope Pius VII]], bishop of Rome, seated, and [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] Caprara.]]

=== Residence and jurisdiction ===
The pope's [[cathedra|official seat]] is in the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]], considered the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and his official residence is the [[Apostolic Palace]]. He also possesses [[Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo|a summer residence]] at [[Castel Gandolfo]], situated on the site of the ancient city of [[Alba Longa]].

The names "Holy See" and "[[Apostolic See]]" are ecclesiastical terminology for the [[ordinary jurisdiction]] of the bishop of Rome (including the Roman Curia); the pope's various honours, powers, and privileges within the Catholic Church and the international community derive from his Episcopate of Rome in lineal succession from the Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles.<ref>see [[Apostolic succession]]</ref> Consequently, Rome has traditionally occupied a central position in the Catholic Church, although this is not necessarily so. The pope derives his pontificate from being the bishop of Rome but is not required to live there; according to the Latin formula ''ubi Papa, ibi Curia'', wherever the pope resides is the central government of the Church. As such, between 1309 and 1378, the popes lived in Avignon, France,<ref>see [[Avignon Papacy]]</ref> a period often called the "Babylonian captivity" in allusion to the [[Bible|Biblical]] narrative of Jews of the ancient [[Kingdom of Judah]] living as captives in [[Babylonia]].

Though the pope is the diocesan bishop of Rome, he delegates most of the day-to-day work of leading the diocese to the [[cardinal vicar]], who assures direct episcopal oversight of the diocese's pastoral needs, not in his own name but in that of the pope. The current cardinal vicar is [[Angelo De Donatis]], who was appointed to the office in June 2017.

=== Political role ===
{{Main|Politics of Vatican City}}
{{Infobox
| above = Sovereign of the Vatican City State
| image = [[File:Coat of arms of the Vatican City.svg|120px]]
| caption = Coat of arms of the Vatican
| label1 = Incumbent | data1 = {{Incumbent pope}}
| label2 = Style     | data2 = [[His Holiness]]
| label3 = Residence | data3 = [[Apostolic Palace]]
| label4 = First Sovereign | data4 = [[Pope Pius XI]]
| label5 = Formation | data5 = 11 February 1929
| label6 = Website   | data6 = {{URL|vaticanstate.va/}}
}}
[[File:PapalPolitics2.JPG|left|thumb|upright|''Antichristus'', a woodcut by Lucas Cranach of the pope using the temporal power to grant authority to a generously contributing ruler]]

Though the progressive [[Christianization]] of the [[Roman Empire]] in the 4th century did not confer upon bishops civil authority within the state, the gradual withdrawal of imperial authority during the 5th century left the pope the senior imperial civilian official in Rome, as bishops were increasingly directing civil affairs in other cities of the Western Empire. This status as a secular and civil ruler was vividly displayed by Pope Leo I's confrontation with [[Attila]] in 452. The first expansion of papal rule outside of Rome came in 728 with the [[Donation of Sutri]], which in turn was substantially increased in 754, when the Frankish ruler [[Pippin the Younger]] gave to the pope the land from his conquest of the Lombards. The pope may have utilized the forged [[Donation of Constantine]] to gain this land, which formed the core of the [[Papal States]]. This document, accepted as genuine until the 15th century, states that Constantine the Great placed the entire Western Empire of Rome under papal rule. In 800, Pope Leo III [[coronation|crowned]] the Frankish ruler Charlemagne as [[Roman emperor]], a major step toward establishing what later became known as the [[Holy Roman Empire]]; from that date onward the popes claimed the prerogative to crown the emperor, though the right fell into disuse after the coronation of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] in 1530. [[Pius VII]] was present at the [[coronation of Napoleon I]] in 1804 but did not actually perform the crowning. As mentioned above, the pope's sovereignty over the Papal States ended in 1870 with their annexation by Italy.

Popes like [[Alexander VI]], an ambitious if spectacularly corrupt politician, and [[Julius II]], a formidable general and statesman, were not afraid to use power to achieve their own ends, which included increasing the power of the papacy. This political and temporal authority was demonstrated through the papal role in the Holy Roman Empire (especially prominent during periods of contention with the emperors, such as during the pontificates of Pope Gregory VII and Pope Alexander III).

Papal bulls, [[interdict]], and [[excommunication]] (or the threat thereof) have been used many times to exercise papal power. The bull ''[[Laudabiliter]]'' in 1155 authorized King [[Henry II of England]] to invade Ireland. In 1207, [[Innocent III]] placed England under interdict until [[John, King of England|King John]] made his kingdom a [[fiefdom]] to the pope, complete with yearly [[tribute]], saying, "we offer and freely yield...to our lord Pope Innocent III and his catholic successors, the whole kingdom of England and the whole kingdom of Ireland with all their rights and appurtenences for the remission of our sins".<ref>Quoted from the [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/innIII-policies.html Medieval Sourcebook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814182618/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/innIII-policies.html |date=14 August 2014 }}</ref> The Bull ''[[Inter caetera]]'' in 1493 led to the [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] in 1494, which divided the world into areas of Spanish and Portuguese rule. The bull ''[[Regnans in Excelsis]]'' in 1570 excommunicated Queen [[Elizabeth I of England]] and declared that all her subjects were released from allegiance to her. The bull ''[[Inter gravissimas]]'' in 1582 established the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref>See [http://tera-3.ul.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/getImage.pl?target=/data/www/NASD/4a7f1db4-5792-415c-be79-266f41eef20a/009/499/PTIFF/00000673.tif&rs=2 selection from ''Concordia Cyclopedia'': Roman Catholic Church, History of] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144949/http://tera-3.ul.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/getImage.pl?target=%2Fdata%2Fwww%2FNASD%2F4a7f1db4-5792-415c-be79-266f41eef20a%2F009%2F499%2FPTIFF%2F00000673.tif&rs=2 |date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

In recent decades, although the papacy has become less directly involved in politics, popes have nevertheless retained significant political influence. They have also served as mediators, with the support of the Catholic establishment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrnes |first=Timothy |date=26 November 2019 |title=The Enduring Power of the Papacy: Pope Francis and International Relations |url=https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/responses/the-enduring-power-of-the-papacy-pope-francis-and-international-relations |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs |language=en |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321072013/https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/responses/the-enduring-power-of-the-papacy-pope-francis-and-international-relations |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Toosi |first=Nahal |date=18 February 2016 |title=The pope flashes his political passions |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/pope-francis-presidential-race-219448 |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205205116/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/pope-francis-presidential-race-219448 |url-status=live }}</ref> John Paul II, a native of [[Poland]], was regarded as influential in the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Judt |first=Tony |title=Postwar: a history of Europe since 1945 |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-303775-0 |location=New York |pages=584–595}}</ref> He also [[Papal mediation in the Beagle conflict|mediated the Beagle conflict]] between Argentina and Chile, two predominantly Catholic countries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andersen |first=Martin |date=19 October 1984 |title=Chile, Argentina Sign Protocol on Beagle |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/10/19/chile-argentina-sign-protocol-on-beagle/f8e5a9db-f01c-4a5a-9691-f91861c095eb/ |access-date=16 August 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=2 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202084736/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/10/19/chile-argentina-sign-protocol-on-beagle/f8e5a9db-f01c-4a5a-9691-f91861c095eb/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 21st century, Francis played a role in brokering the 2015 [[Cuban thaw|improvement in relations]] between the United States and Cuba.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooper |first=John |date=17 December 2014 |title=Pope Francis and the Vatican played key roles in US-Cuba thaw, leaders reveal |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/17/us-cuba-pope-franicis-key-roles |access-date=16 August 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614201740/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/17/us-cuba-pope-franicis-key-roles |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chandler |first=Adam |date=17 December 2014 |title=How the Pope Helped Bring the United States and Cuba Together |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/12/pope-francis-birthday-cuba-deal-castro-obama-letter/383854/ |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128060208/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/12/pope-francis-birthday-cuba-deal-castro-obama-letter/383854/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== International position ===
{{Main|List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See}}
Under international law, a serving [[head of state]] has [[sovereign immunity]] from the jurisdiction of the courts of other countries, though not from that of international tribunals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crimesofwar.org/commentary/the-icc-bashir-and-the-immunity-of-heads-of-state/ |first1=Anthony |last1=Dworkin |first2=Katherine |last2=Iliopoulos |title=The International Criminal Court, Bashir, and the Immunity of Heads of State |publisher=Crimesofwar.org |access-date=11 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809081228/http://www.crimesofwar.org/commentary/the-icc-bashir-and-the-immunity-of-heads-of-state/ |archive-date=9 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fZNZ7r4hYL8C |first=Yitiha |last=Simbeye |title=Immunity and International Criminal Law |year=2004 |page=94 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=9780754624332 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728141538/https://books.google.com/books?id=fZNZ7r4hYL8C |url-status=live }}</ref> This immunity is sometimes loosely referred to as "[[diplomatic immunity]]", which is, strictly speaking, the immunity enjoyed by the ''diplomatic representatives'' of a head of state.

International law treats the Holy See, essentially the central government of the Catholic Church, as the juridical equal of a state. It is distinct from the state of Vatican City, existing for many centuries before the foundation of the latter. (It is common for publications and news media to use "the Vatican", "Vatican City", and even "Rome" as [[metonym]]s for the Holy See.) Most countries of the world maintain the same form of diplomatic relations with the Holy See that they entertain with other states. Even countries without those diplomatic relations participate in international organizations of which the Holy See is a full member.

It is as head of the state-equivalent worldwide religious jurisdiction of the Holy See (not of the territory of Vatican City) that the [[U.S. Justice Department]] ruled that the pope enjoys head-of-state immunity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169909,00.html |title=U.S. Says Pope Immune From Molestation Lawsuit |publisher=Fox News |date=20 September 2005 |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128045143/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169909,00.html |archive-date=28 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This head-of-state immunity, recognized by the United States, must be distinguished from that envisaged under the United States' [[Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act]] of 1976, which, while recognizing the basic immunity of foreign governments from being sued in American courts, lays down nine exceptions, including commercial activity and actions in the United States by agents or employees of the foreign governments. It was in relation to the latter that, in November 2008, the [[United States Court of Appeals]] in [[Cincinnati]] decided that a case over [[Catholic sex abuse cases|sexual abuse by Catholic priests]] could proceed, provided the plaintiffs could prove that the bishops accused of negligent supervision were acting as employees or agents of the Holy See and were following official Holy See policy.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=John L. |url=http://ncronline.org/news/autonomy-bishops-and-suing-vatican |title=The autonomy of bishops, and suing the Vatican |work=National Catholic Review |date=21 May 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |archive-date=24 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524063006/http://ncronline.org/news/autonomy-bishops-and-suing-vatican |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sexualabuseclaimsblog.com/2008/11/vatican_can_be_sued_for_priest_sexual_abuse_us_court_of_appeals.html |title=Vatican Can Be Sued For Priest Sexual Abuse: U.S. Court of Appeals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822014429/http://www.sexualabuseclaimsblog.com/2008/11/vatican_can_be_sued_for_priest_sexual_abuse_us_court_of_appeals.html |archive-date=22 August 2016 |date=27 November 2008 |first=John |last=McKiggan |publisher=McKiggan Hebert Lawyers |work=Sexual Abuse Claims Blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Winfield|first=Nicole|title=Vatican offers 3 reasons it's not liable in U.S. abuse case|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-03-30-catholic-abuse_N.htm|access-date=15 April 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=30 March 2010|archive-date=13 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413232009/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-03-30-catholic-abuse_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2010, there was press coverage in Britain concerning a proposed plan by [[atheist]] campaigners and a prominent [[barrister]]{{who|date=July 2020}} to have Pope Benedict XVI arrested and prosecuted in the UK for alleged offences, dating from several decades before, in failing to take appropriate action regarding Catholic sex abuse cases and concerning their disputing his immunity from prosecution in that country.<ref>{{cite news |last=Horne |first=Mark |title=Richard Dawkins calls for arrest of Pope Benedict XVI |url=http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/5415 |work=The Times |location=London |access-date=15 April 2013 |date=10 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423111338/http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/5415 |archive-date=23 April 2014 |via=Richard Dawkins}}</ref> This was generally dismissed as "unrealistic and spurious".<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Ivor |title=Is the Holy See above the law? |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/article2475567.ece |access-date=15 April 2013 |newspaper=The Times |date=13 April 2010 |location=London |url-access=subscription |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223011623/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/article2475567.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Another barrister said that it was a "matter of embarrassment that a senior British lawyer would want to allow himself to be associated with such a silly idea".<ref name=Zenit>{{cite news |agency=[[Zenit News Agency]] |date=15 April 2010 |url=http://zenit.org/article-28914?l=english |title=Arrest the Pope? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420025614/http://www.zenit.org/article-28914?l=english |archive-date=20 April 2010 |first=Edward |last=Pentin}}</ref>

Sovereign immunity does not apply to disputes relating to commercial transactions, and governmental units of the Holy See can face trial in foreign commercial courts. The first such trial to take place in the English courts is likely to occur in 2022 or 2023.<ref name=telegraph-20220806>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/08/06/vaticans-124m-property-case-heard-uk-trial-century/ |title=Vatican's £124m property case to be heard in UK in 'trial of the century' |last=Hymas |first=Charles |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url-access=limited |date=6 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808002346/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/08/06/vaticans-124m-property-case-heard-uk-trial-century/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=littletonchambers-20220726>{{cite web |url=https://littletonchambers.com/court-of-appeal-sets-aside-stay-of-proceedings-in-vatican-london-property-dispute/ |title=Court of Appeal sets aside stay of proceedings in Vatican London property dispute |website=Littleton Chambers |date=26 July 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813002807/https://littletonchambers.com/court-of-appeal-sets-aside-stay-of-proceedings-in-vatican-london-property-dispute/ |url-status=live }}</ref>