the great comission

• The hierarchy of the Church is in this order; Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and the Laity.
• A source of authority fro the hierarchy of the church is: " You are Peter and upon this rock i will build my church" - Matthew 16:18
• The Papacy is the Pope, the supreme leader of the Catholic Church, the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Pope means father in Latin and bridge-builder
• The Pope is the leader of the magisterium.
• The magisterium is split into 2, the ordinary magisterium and the extraordinary magisterium.
• The Pope has papal infallibility and speaks ex cathedra which means what ever he says is true and he speaks with authority
• Pope John XXIII wrote the encyclical, 'Pacem in Terris' and he was pope from 1958-1963
• Pope John XXIII began a new era in the church and was one of the most popular popes of all time
• Pope John XXIII was made saint in 2014
• Pope John Paul II (JP2), was the 2nd longest-serving Pope after Pope Pius IX. He was Pope from 1978-2005.
• JP2 was the first non-Italian pope and helped end communist in Poland and Europe.
• JP2 was one of the most travelled world leaders in history travelling to 129 countries.
• JP2 took part in the 2nd Vatican council in 1962, where he made contributions to; the decree on religious freedom and gauduim et spes.
• JP2 introduced his own views on the nature of the human person in relation to God by saying; "man is the only creature on earth that God has wanted for it's own sake, but man can fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself."
• JP2 gave 129 lectures about a series of topics on the Theology of the body , which is an analysis on human sexuality.
• Pope Francis maintains that the church should be more open and welcoming and the traditional views of the church.
• Pope Francis published his first major letter in 2013 called evangelii gaudium, which he urged the entire church 'to embark on a new chapterof evangelism'.
• Pope Francis published his first own encyclical in 2015 called Laudato Si' which is about concerning care for the planet.
• The word Cardinal means 'door-hinge'
• A Cardinal is someone who is nominated by the Pope to form part of the magisterium.
• Cardinals form part of a sacred 'collage of Cardinals' and help the Pope with his many roles in the papacy.
• Cardinals always wear a Zuchetto on their heads and sometimes wear a biretta on their heads as well
• Cardinals also wear a red robe to symbolize they give their life to the church.
• The magisterium is the 'teaching authority of the church'
• The word Bishop means 'over-seer'
• A Bishop is a senior member of the chruch, usually in charge of a diocese with many parishes.
• Bishops oversee a whole diocese and some diocese are so large they have multiple Bishops with one leading Archbishop
• In order to be a Bishop you will need to be ordained and hold the fullness of the sacrament of the holy orders.
• One role of a Bishop is to teach. They oversee the preaching of the gospel and the word of God, ensuring it is being taught correctly.
• Another role of a Bishop is to govern. They oversee the finances and care for all properties of the church. They also appoint Priests for all Parishes in the diocese.
• One more role of a Bishop is to sanctify. They oversee and provide administration of the sacraments.
• Bishops are seen as the successors of the apostles that are snet out by Jesus to continue his work.
• A Bishops church is called a Cathedral which is the main church for the diocese.
• Every 5 years a Bishop must send a report to the Vatican city about his diocese he oversee's.
• Bishops have a duty to be present at their Cathedral during sessions of; lent and advent, the feasts of Easter, Christmas, Pentecost and Corpus Christi.
• Bishops wear a purple Zuchetto on their heads.
• Bishops wear a mitre on their heads.
• During important events, a Bishop will have a crosier.
• Bishops are always men.