Roman Catholic Church Hierarchy

The structure of the clergy body in authority within a Christian church.

Pope

Head of the Catholic church and he is based at the Vatican. The Pope is also Bishop of Rome and Peter�s successor, Also known as "Vicar of Christ" and the "Supreme Pontiff" of the Universal Church, and also a less formal title as the "Servant of the Servants of God". The pope is infallible in defining matters of faith and morals. He is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful. 

Cardinal

Are princes of the Church appointed.by the Pope and they make up the College of Cardinals, whom provides advise the Pope. They are chosen from head departments of the Roman Curia or important episcopal sees throughout the world.Cardinals under the age of 80 also have duty on electing a new Pope upon death or resignation of the current Pope.

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of a main or metropolitan diocese also known as an archdiocese. A cardinal can concurrently hold the title.

Bishop (Diocesan Bishop)

A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this position/ranking. Ordained to the episcopate is the fullness of the priesthood, are considered the successors of the Apostles. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government within the diocese or sees he is ordained bishop. The Pope himself is a bishop (the bishop of Rome).

Priest

An ordained priest who can administer most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and marriage in a given congregation. He can be with a particular religious order or committed to serving a congregation.

Deacon

A transitional deacon is a seminarian studying for the priesthood. A permanent deacon can be married and assists a bishop or priest by performing some of the sacraments.

Habemus Papam, the 266th Pope has been Elected

White smoke finally billowed 

from the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City 

at 7:07 PM, 13 March 2013

Habemus Papam ~ We have a pope

was announced by 

French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran

The vacant Chair of Saint Peter has found a candidate, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76 of Argentina is the new Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the successor to Benedict XVI. He will be the head and supreme shepherd of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. He is the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years. In addition to the later, he is also the first pontiff from the Latin American, the New World, and the Southern Hemisphere, who is also the first Jesuit pope. He is a doctrinal conservative (like all serious candidates for Pope). He selected papal name Francis, n honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, and because he believes in uplifting of the poor of our society. The Vatican clarified that his official papal name was Pope Francis, not "Pope Francis I." A Vatican spokesman said that the name would become Francis I if and when there is a Francis II.

He is a humble man who leads an austere and sober life without ostentation, travelling by public transport and living in a small apartment outside Buenos Aires. Pope Francis, said to the crowd "Pray for me" when he made his first appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. In this gesture of humility, he asked the crowd to bless him before he blesses them. 

His main focused has been on helping the poor throughout his career, noting, �The suffering of innocent and peaceful continues to slap us, the contempt for the rights of individuals and peoples are so far away, the rule of money with his demonic effects as drugs, corruption, trafficking people, including children, along with material and moral poverty are big problems.�

Facts about Jorge Mario Bergoglio :

~ Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936.

~ He has four brothers and sisters. His father was an Italian immigrant and railway worker, and his mother was a housewife.

~ Graduated from a technical school and a chemist by trade.

~ Knows how to Tango.
~ At the age of 21 in 1958, he decided to enter the Society of Jesus, and started studying to become a Jesuit priest. He was ordained as a priest on 13 December, 1969.

~ He has a philosophy degree from the Catholic University of Buenos Aires and a master�s degree in chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires.

~ He taught literature, philosophy, theology, and psychology.

~ Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998, and a cardinal since 21 February, 2001.

~ His episcopal motto was �miserando atque eligendo� (lowly and yet chosen).

~ He speaks fluent Spanish (his mother tongue), Latin, Italian, and German.

~ As the Archbishop of Buenos Aires he turned down the opportunity to live in the palatial Archibishop�s residence, opting for a small spartan apartment outside Buenos Aires instead.

~ Travelling by public transport, he takes the bus.

~ Cooks his own meals.

~ He has lived for more than 50 years with one functioning lung, his other one got infected, and it had to be removed during his teenage days.

~ After Argentina legalized gay marriage in July 2010, Bergoglio described the new law as �a scheme to destroy God�s plan� and �a real and dire anthropological throwback.� When the legislation was still being debated, he called it �a move by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God.� Argentine President Cristina Fern�ndez de Kirchner said Bergoglio�s comments were �really reminiscent of the times of the Inquisition.�

~ Bergoglio also called gay adoption �discrimination against children,� charging that the practice was �depriving [children] of the human growth that God wanted them given by a father and a mother.�

~ He urged Argentinians not to travel to Rome to celebrate if he was appointed but to give their money to the poor instead.

~ Though conservative on church doctrine, he has criticised priests who refuse to baptise babies born to single mothers.

~ He is believed to have been the runner-up in the last papal conclave in 2005.

Prayer for the Conclave Election of the New Pope

Heavenly Father, 

we, the people of God, 

gathered in solidarity 

as did the disciples 

in the Upper Room, 

pray for the descent 

of the Holy Spirit 

upon the Cardinals 

who will be in Conclave 

for the election 

of the next Vicar 

of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

May the hearts of our Cardinals open 

to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, 

beyond any human judgment, 

to elect the candidate 

most pleasing to You, 

Heavenly Father, 

and who guide the Church 

at this momentous 

time in history. 

We invoke our Mother Mary, 

united in prayer with the disciples 

in the Upper Room, 

to intercede for our Cardinals 

to select the next Holy Farther 

in docility to the promptings 

of the Holy Spirit, 

her divine Spouse. 

Holy Mary, 

Mother of God 

and of the Church, 

we entrust this Conclave 

to Your maternal 

and Immaculate Heart, 

and offer this prayers 

for Your guidance 

and protection over the choosing 

of the next Vicar of Your Son. 

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) 

Mary, Mother of the Church, 

Pray for us.

Pope John Paul II poem that speaks of the conclave

In 2003, Pope John Paul II published his last book of poetry, Roman Triptych: Meditations. In which he speaks of the Conclave which would follow his death.

It is here, beneath this wondrous Sistine profusion of color

that the Cardinals assemble--

the community responsible for the legacy of the

keys of the Kingdom.

They come here, to this very place.

And once more Michelangelo wraps them in his vision.

"In Him we live and move and have our being." 

Who is He?

Behold, the creating hand of the Almighty,

the Ancient One,

reaching towards Adam...

In the beginning God created...

He, who sees all things... 

The colors of the Sistine will then speak the 

word of the Lord:

Tu es Petrus--once heard by Simon, son of John.

"To you I will give the keys of the Kingdom."

Those entrusted with the legacy of the keys

gather here, letting themselves be enfolded

by the Sistine's colors,

by the vision left to us by Michelangelo--

So it was in August, and again in October,

in the memorable year of the two Conclaves,

and so it will be once more, when the time comes,

after my death.

Michelangelo's vision must then speak to them.

"Con-clave": a shared concern for the legacy of the keys,

the keys of the Kingdom.

Lo, they see themselves in the midst of the

Beginning and the End,

between the Day of Creation and the Day of Judgment...

It is granted man once to die, and thereafter, the Judgment! 

Final transparency and light.

The clarity of the events--

the clarity of consciences--

During the conclave Michelangelo must teach them--

Do not forget: Omnia nuda et aperta sunt ante oculos Eius.

You who see all, point to him!

He will point him out... 

Pope John Paul II

"Epilogue," Roman Triptych, 2003

"Omnia nuda et aperta sunt ante oculos Eius"

means

Everything is disclosed and revealed before his eyes.

Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announcement on his resignation has stunned the world and he Catholic church. After nearly eight years as head of Catholic church, the Pontiff, 85, who has arthritis, says he will step down on 28 February, 2013 due to his declining health. His resignation is being the first since the last 600 years and will leave the papacy vacant until a successor is chosen by the conclave most likely in in the following month.

Rev. Federico Lombardi as the Vatican spokesman, the pope will carry out his duties until 28 February at 8 p.m. and a successor would probably be elected by Easter, 31 March, 2013. But he said the timing for an election of a new pope was �not an announcement, it�s a hypothesis.�

Upon stepping down, his new title will be "Bishop Emeritus of Rome." Pope Benedict XVI said his last public mass on Ash Wednesday, 13 February, 2013 at the St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Benedict XVI explained his decision to retire, saying, "I am no longer capable of carrying out Peter's ministry with the strength needed."

All Catholics are called to remember the Holy Father (Benedict XVI) in our daily prayer and also to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the cardinals as they prepare for the conclave in order to select the righteous successor for Pope Benedict XVI soon in accordance to what God has planned.

So SAD to see YOU leave YOUR PAPACY,

WE will miss you, Holy Father Benedict XVI, 

YOU will be always remembered 

in our HEARTS and PRAYERS.

Pope Benedict XVI Final Public Homily - Ash Wednesday 2013