GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - He is called the Vicar of Christ, the
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, and the Bishop of Rome,
but he is best known as the pope. The Roman Catholic Church says
the history of the pope goes back to the first century, starting
with Saint Peter. The papacy is steeped in tradition, but the
ultimate role of the pope has remained unchanged. "The pope is
the pastor of the Universal Church," explains Bishop Walter
Hurley from the Diocese of Grand Rapids. "Basically, the role of
the pope, as it is understood by the church, is that he is the
successor of Peter the Apostle," says Bishop Hurley. He is the
focal point of unity and meant to be a unifying force within the
church. The pope is also the administrator of Vatican City, a
city-state within Rome. "He has a large staff of people who work
in various offices, explains Bishop Hurley. "It is a lot like
the Diocese of Grand Rapids only much bigger." The pope appoints
bishops and cardinals, the spiritual leadership for a group of
churches. "