Pope

:This entry is about the Catholic Pontiff. For other uses of the word, see Pope (disambiguation).

Other Popes

An antipope is a person who claims the Pontificate without being canonically and properly elected to it. The existence of an antipope is usually due either to doctrinal controversy within the Church, or to confusion as to who is the legitimate pope at the time (see Papal Schism).

Related Topics:
Antipope - Papal Schism

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The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is called the Black Pope due to the Jesuits' practice of wearing black cassocks (compared to the Pope's always wearing white robes), and to the order's specific allegiance to the Roman pontiff.

Related Topics:
Superior General of the Society of Jesus - Black Pope - Jesuits'

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The heads of the Coptic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria are also called "Popes" for historical reasons, the former being called "Coptic Pope" or "Pope of Alexandria" and the latter called "Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa"; the parallel construction "Pope of Rome" is frequently used in the Eastern churches.

Related Topics:
Coptic Church - Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria

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In Islam, the former office of Caliph held similar meaning, as the leader of all Muslims, subordinate only to the prophet Muhammad.

Related Topics:
Islam - Caliph - Muhammad

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