Pope who is

Especially when some Christians believe it to be the place where Saint Peter was martyred under the reign of Emperor Nero, although there is no hard evidence to support this.

The rise to Christianity occurred during the Roman Empire 27 BC — AD , although its development was a long time in the making, and even after the conversion of many neighbouring nations the rulers of Rome persecuted and killed many practicing Christians. From then the papacy has continued in some form or another, facing different threats over time. During the Renaissance it was trying to balance the fragile position of power with the government.

The doctrine is a document outlining the respect and authority due to the Pope from other bishops and their area of jurisdiction. In modern times, the position of the Pope is still one of great prestige and authority, with each Pope ruling over the ecclesiastical state of the Vatican City, named the home of the Catholic Church. He has been praised for his more informal approach and common touch demonstrated by his simple white dress and iron pectoral cross that he wore as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

This stands in contrast to his predecessors who all wore the traditional red trimmed mozzetta and gold cross upon their succession. As Catholic Joe Biden meets Pope Francis, sacraments and abortion are sure to be a bone of contention. But Church historian Massimo Faggioli says the pope needs to tread carefully — the future of Catholicism is at stake.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said the Catholic Church needs to be more transparent about abuse scandals. He and the pope also criticized a lack of coherent EU immigration policy with regard to refugees.

The pontiff has pleaded countries to offer migrants rescued from the Mediterranean safe disembarkation at ports, alternatives to detention, and access to asylum. On a farewell visit to Italy, the outgoing German chancellor spoke to the pontiff about climate change and the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy. Pope Francis spoke of "sadness and pain" over the sexual abuse of children by the French Catholic clergy, which was revealed this week in a devastating report.

Authorities in Missouri have proceeded to execute a man who its claimed was intellectually disabled. Ernest Lee Johnson murdered three people in a robbery in The senior cleric was accused of protecting priests suspected of sexual abuse. Archbishop Stefan Hesse was on leave after being accused of neglecting his duty in a report on sexual abuse at the diocese of Cologne. Pope Francis meets with Roma in a notorious housing project on day three of his Central Europe trip.

The visit comes after he met with Holocaust survivors in Bratislava Monday. Pope Francis met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose right-wing, anti-immigrant policies clash with Francis' call for countries to welcome refugees. Francis then called for less division in Slovakia.

Within the Sistine Chapel, in a meeting called the conclave , the cardinal electors choose a new Pope. It takes a two-thirds majority to elect a Pope. After the ballots are counted, they are burned in a stove in the Sistine Chapel.

The smoke escapes through a small chimney. If the vote has been unsuccessful the ballots are burned with a special chemical compound to make fumata nera , or black smoke. But if fumata bianca rises from the chimney, the Catholic world can be reassured that they have a new leader. The new pope is expected to choose and announce his regnal , or reign name, which is the formal name used during his time as pope.

Monarchs practice a similar tradition when they inherit a throne.