Pope powah?

[Kadagar_AV]

To not derail one of the other threads.

How much power does the pope actually have? I guess what I would like see debated is a twofold question, heck, I'll throw one in to get a trinity (to celebrate the occasion).

1. What power does the pope have on the international, political stage.

2. What power does the pope, as an individual, have. IE, can he veto anything, is there even stuff to veto? I am not asking for a rundown of the official agenda here, anyone could google that. I am more looking for practical examples of popes doing stuff "on their own".

3. Is the pope, like, buddy with god?

[Rhyfelwyr]

From what I understand (and I may well be wrong on some points)...

1. Since the Vatican has no military or economic strength, the Pope has no 'hard' power in international politics. 'Soft power' (aka influence) is obviously another matter, the Pope will have a noteworthy influence on politics in any country with a sizeable Catholic population, by shaping Catholic's views on certain matters. This isn't just the obvious ones like abortion or gay marriage. Things like Catholic social teaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_social_teaching) can have a more subtle but deeper influence.

The Holy See does have observer status in the UN, which is IIRC what Palestine has.

2. Well presuming you are talking about Vatican decision-making here... If the Pope says something, Catholics are (in theory) supposed to respect it and follow it as best they can. This does not just apply to when he makes ex cathedra statements. However the power to speak ex cathedra is significant as the Pope is considered infallible while doing so (not on merit of his person, but because of the office he holds - a disintction worth noting). However these are very rarely used (only twice ever IIRC), although as far as I am aware they could in theory be used for pretty much anything the Pope wants to say.

Religious matter aside, the Pope is also effectively an absolute monarch for the Vatican State, although I don't think he would spend much of his time on that side of things.

3. I think with Catholic doctrine the Pope has a relationship with God in the same way any Christian would. He isn't supposed to have a hotline to God or anything like that. He is just inspired by him in his actions when ruling as Pope.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

1. Rhyf summarizes this pretty well.

2. The Vatican (Papal States) are a distinct political entity with all of the trappings and perquisites that acrue to any other state. Within the Vatican, the Pope is an absolute monarch and can rule by fiat. In practice, much of the day-to-day governance is run by the bureacrats and higher prelates of the curia. The Vatican allows Rome to provide much of its emergency service support, allows freedom of speech and the press, etc., but all of these practices are -- technically -- at the sufferance of the Holy Father. In practice, of course, attempts to reverse most of the policing and press policies at the Vatican are not so easily changed even if the Holy Father still technically rules by fiat.

3. The Holy Father is the head of the Church. He is tasked with service to the entirety of the faith and serves as the hierarchical leader of the clergy. His spiritual powers are, for the most part, no less and no more than those of any other consecrated bishop. The exception to this is, of course, that his interpretation of doctrine etc. is considered the final authority (at least until altered by some future Holy Father). The Pope's pronouncements are given great weight because of this in doctrinal matters. Only when the Holy Father makes a prounouncement that is specifically delineated as ex cathedra is he presumed to be articulating an absolute statement of belief applicable to the entirety of the Church. Such prounouncements are quite rare. All members of the clergy -- as indeed should all Catholics -- seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in a continuting effort to grow closer to God.