Facts about the Pope

   

What is he like?                                                                                                            

Pope Benedict XVI is a quiet, humble and very clever man.  He is the 265th Pope since the time of Jesus (St Peter was the first).

Where was he born?   

                                                                                                 

Born in Bavaria, Germany,  in 1927 (he’s 83 years old), he was named Joseph. He lived through the very dark and difficult times of Nazi Germany and the second world war.

When did he become a priest and was was he elected Pope?                                                      

He was ordained a priest in 1951. He was elected to be Pope in April 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.

What does the Pope do?                                                                                                   

As Pope, his task as ‘chief of all the shepherds on earth’ is to defend our faith, teach us about our faith and help guide us to heaven, so that we can spend eternity with God, our Creator, our heavenly Father.

Where does he live and work?            

                                                                         

The Pope lives and works in the Vatican, in Rome, Italy. On most Sundays he gives a special message and blessing to pilgrims who gather at St Peter’s Square, and to people throughout the whole world.

Has there always been a Pope?                                                                              

Ever since the time of Jesus, there has always been a Pope. It was Jesus who chose the first Pope, St Peter. Handing St Peter the keys to heaven, Jesus said to him, ‘Your name is Peter, and on this Rock I shall build my Church. Feed my lambs.’ This is why “Tu es Petrus” (you are Peter) is sung and chanted when a new Pope is chosen.

How is the Pope chosen?                                                                                            

When a Pope dies, all the Cardinals come together in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to form the Papal Conclave. They are not allowed to speak to anyone during the time they are gathered together to choose the next Pope – no telephone, no mobile, no internet, nothing!

They pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance on who to choose. When a new Pope has been chosen, and after he has accepted, ”Habemus Papam” (we have a new Pope) is announced from the balcony of the Vatican. Out steps the new Pontiff for the whole world to see!

 (go to http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/election.asp for more info) 

What’s the Pope-mobile?

The Pope makes visits to many different countries. Huge numbers of people gather to try to catch a glimpse of this special person. So that everyone can see him, he travels around in the ‘Pope-mobile’.