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Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) has died. This is significant as he was the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
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The Pope’s role: He is the Bishop of Rome, considered the visible head of the Catholic Church. This means he holds supreme authority over Catholics worldwide.
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Papal Authority: The Pope, also known as the supreme pontiff, resides in Vatican City.
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Election Process: The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals through a conclave. While any baptized Catholic man is eligible, cardinals usually select one of their own. This process will now be initiated to select his successor.
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Vatican City’s Importance: Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign state, governed by the Pope. It operates independently with its own systems, including finances and postal service.
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Vatican City’s operations Vatican City has it’s own revenue, which comes from global Catholic donations, investments, and sales of publications.
