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How much power does the Pope still have today?

(Bild: APA/AFP/Tiziana FABI)

For Catholics, the Pope is more than just the head of the Roman Catholic Church: he is seen as Christ's representative on earth. His influence on the faithful should therefore not be underestimated and, to a certain extent, he also represents at least a moral authority for many non-believers. How do you personally see his role today? 

While the Pope has played a particularly important role since the early Middle Ages as the successor to the Apostle Peter, his power has increasingly declined, especially since the Reformation in the 16th century. Due to the division of Christians, he lost secular and therefore political power. Today, the current Pope Francis is mainly seen as a spiritual and moral authority.

However, his role as a diplomatic mediator in particular is as important as ever in our time with the current hotbeds of conflict. In addition, he also likes to take a stand on issues such as peace, justice and environmental protection, thereby bringing these to the attention of all those for whom his words have meaning. At the same time, however, he also comes in for criticism from time to time, for example through his statements on the role of women or modern technology.

(Bild: P. Huber)

What role does the Pope play in your life and how satisfied are you with him as the head of the Catholic Church? To what extent do his statements influence your views on certain topics he addresses? How do you rate his influence as a neutral mediator in international affairs? And what current challenges do you see for the Catholic Church and his person in particular? We look forward to your contributions in the comments section below!