He has been his eyes for more than two weeks in the Vatican, waiting for the news Francis Health Pope. The Pope has been at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since 14 February 2025, treated for double pneumonia and other complications.
When a Pope is sick, resign or passes, who pauses? And who helps see more holy? Interview with us Daniel Speed ThompsonTheologue at the University Dayton, for some visions of the city of Vatican.
Who are the most powerful people in the Vatican, besides the Pope?
The Vatican has the central government of the Catholic Church and is also an independent city. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the state of the state.
To govern both, it has Roman Curia“Court” means. In modern conditions, Curia Papala is bureaucracy. It is an extension of the authority of the Pope.
In the Catholic Doctrine, the Pope has the largest church authority. With the university of the bishop alone, it consists of all the bishops in the world. The bishop appointed in the “Cardinal” office if less than 80 years old Vote to choose a new pope. Some cardinals, but not all, served in Rome in Curia paper.
In addition to the saint father, curial officials who oversee the important aspects of the political and religious life of the Church are strong figures. For example, Secretariat of State, head Pietro Parolin CardinalIt oversees relationships with other countries and international organizations. It also oversees the Vatican diplomatic bodies.
Gregory Borgia / AP
Dicasyy – “Department” – Guided by the Doctrine of Faith Víctor Cardinal Manuel FernándezHe directs questions about the direct Catholic teaching on faith and morals. Bishop Distribution, head Cardinal Robert PrevostCoordinates candidates from new bishops from all over the world.
All these officials work under the authority of the Pope, to defend and implement his agenda. For example, Pionosts proposed all Catholics must be involved in the selection of bishops. This idea is associated with Francis call Church “Synodonia”: Putting more hierarchical and Catholic concerns and challenges.
If a Pope can’t fulfill his duties, who takes steps?
When the Pope die or resignation is resigned, Like Benedict XVI He did in 2013 – the governance of the Catholic Church falls to the University of Cardinals formally. However, the authority of the university is very limited. On their own, Cardinals cannot decide on faith, morals and worship. Don’t they know the decisions or changes of the previous breaches Choosing Church laws for the new Pope.
All Dicasterio heads lose office On the death or resignation of a Pope. Cardinal College serves as a caregiver government, its main goal is to prepare elections to supervise the Pope and Vatican Day work.
A cardinal, It is known as the name “Camerlengo”“It reaffirms the death or resignation of the Pope. Then he coordinates the funeral, if Camerlengo also takes care of the Vatican’s property in Rome and oversees details Next conkle.
Paolo Santalucia / AP
The daily business of the Catholic Church follows, but it has not made much decision to miss a pope. The church cannot be named new bishops, and the Vatican cannot start new diplomatic efforts.
Vatican officials are often selected to be a Pope?
Sometimes. The Cardinal Francis was the Argentine election before the Pope and did not serve Roman Curia. However, Benedict XVI, Francis’s backgroundHe used it as a Congregation prefection – now called Diastery – for the doctrine of faith. Some last comments were served earlier in their career, but they are not before their election.
What do you want more people understand in the Vatican?
Three things. First, the Vatican is unlike any organization in the world. Its religious mission and political situation is almost resting in 2,000 years of history. This complicated story offers a unique tradition that anchor the organization of the Catholic Church, but the church can also block it from critical self-examination and upgrades.
Second, the Vatican is like every organization in the world. Vatican officials may be loyal to the highest standards of religion, really want to serve common benefits of church and humanity. But they can also be immoral immoral, Also criminalsand the caregivers of the applicants of the situation or luxury. Francis continually calls the priests and bishops Somehow those who see as superior according to the office or their order.
Finally, compared to mass bureaucracy of modern governments and corporations, the Vatican is relatively small and is not as rich as it is portrayed.
Although Curia manages an extensive international organization, its resources are farther My Central Catholic University Than US government or apple. Vatican City and Holy employed about 2,000 peopletogether Operating budget About $ 835 million.
Yes, the Catholic Church has wealth – and deficits and steady economic corruption. But the Vatican resources are pale compared to what a modern state or a large company can interview.
This article was originally published Interview.
