The pope[a] is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, [b] Roman pontiff, [c] or sovereign pontiff.

Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV on the importance of Archaeology on the occasion of the Centenary of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology

Dec 10, 2025 · The pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter and has supreme power of jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in …

Who is the Pope, and why does he matter? Discover his role as St. Peter’s successor, his authority, and how he is chosen to lead the Church.

1 day ago · Pope Leo replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as leader of the Catholic Church in New York, the Vatican announced on Thursday, sidelining a prominent U.S. Church figure in a …

3 days ago · Follow Vatican News for updates and information on the daily activities of the Pope.

1 day ago · Pope Leo appointed a relatively unknown cleric from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks, to replace Dolan as leader of the nation's second-largest Catholic diocese.

The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the faithful. To view a full list of the popes of the …

2 days ago · Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, to succeed retiring Timothy Cardinal Dolan as archbishop of New York.

Pope Leo XIV[a] (born Robert Francis Prevost, [b][c] September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He is the first Pope to have been born in the …