The Bishop of Rome, sometimes known as the Pope, is ultimately responsible for directing the whole Catholic Church under the auspices of his jurisdiction, which is known as the Holy See.There is a wide range of religious institutes that operate outside of the diocesan organization.These religious institutes are typically exclusively subject to the authority of the Pope, however in rare cases they are subject to the authority of the local bishop.

The Pope serves as the supreme authority inside the Catholic Church. He is the one who represents God here on Earth.

Who are the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church?

Who exactly are the most powerful individuals in the Roman Catholic Church? The Bishop of Rome, sometimes referred to as the Pope (from the Latin word papa, which means ″father″), is at the top of the Catholic Church’s hierarchical structure and serves as the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. The papal conclave on which Pope Francis was ultimately selected took place on March 13, 2013.