Popes

Beliefnet is the leading site covering faith, religion, and spirituality. Our Catholic section offers resources, insightful commentary, and articles about popes and the papacy. The content is of interest to Roman Catholics but also to Protestants and other non-Catholics. Beliefnet extensively covered the life, death, and funeral of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI (formerly Cardinal Josef Ratzinger) at the conclave of cardinals in 2005. Beliefnet's coverage of popes and the papacy also explores:

• The theology that maintains the pope is the vicar of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of papal infallibility
• The history of the papacy as an institution from the time of St. Peter through the Reformation to the modern era
• The controversial encyclical "Humanae Vitae" on Catholics and birth control by Pope Paul VI
• The issue of whether Pope Pius XII sufficiently protected Jews from the Holocaust.

We also have articles about the Vatican's stance on modern issues, including gay priests, seminarians, and homosexuality in general; how the Vatican has regarded the clergy sexual abuse cases; and the Vatican's relationship with American bishops, theologians (especially those teaching at colleges), and nuns. Finally, our articles cover Vatican protocol, politics, and even such matters as the pope's vestments and the crucifix he carries. Please choose a topic below to explore our offerings.