The Pope or the Bishop is the spiritual leader of all Catholics and Catholic churches in the entire world. He is considered as the person who is currently in the position in which Saint Peter was once present as the Apostle. The Pope is also the sovereign head of the Vatican City State which is a sovereign enclave within Rome. The “Holy Sea” is the other name of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop and though the days when the Pope used to be an all powerful entity is gone, he still inspires the highest degree of respect and dedication from the strict Catholics both within as well as outside the Vatican City walls.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005 by a papal conclave after the death of Pope John Paul II in April. He is currently the 265th Bishop and the holder of the serene position as of now. Pope Benedict XVI is one of the most conservative Popes in the recent times and has come into the forefront quite a few times with his controversial and conservative remarks on homosexuality, birth control as well as a few other modern social phenomenons. However, he has declared that he is by no means in support of attacking or abusing homosexuals.
The Papal Palace in Vatican City which is inside the city of Rome in Italy is the home of Pope Benedict XVI. The Palace is also known as the Apostolic Palace and it is a large establishment with a number of offices as well as leaving quarters within it. The Basilica of St. John the Lateran is the Pope’s cathedral.