The Pope

Pope Francis was born in Argentina in 1936. 

He was elected pope on March 13, 2013.

Today we discussed popes.

We started class by watching part of a Catholic mass led by Pope Francis. The mass was held in the Sistine Chapel, and several students told me that they studied the Sistine Chapel (and Michelangelo's beautiful frescoes) during 5th grade.

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We learned that, prior to his death, Jesus designated his disciple Peter as the leader of the Christian Church. Peter became the bishop of Rome, and subsequent bishops of Rome were called pope (which comes from the Latin word "papa", meaning father).

Popes became very powerful during the Middle Ages. They often competed for power with kings and queens (who wanted it for themselves!).

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Several students asked why the pope wears a skullcap that resembles the yarmulke worn by Jewish men.  Here's an explanation, from a website called "Catholic Notebook":

The skullcap (known as a zuchetto) is a sign that a man is wholly dedicated to the Lord. 

Zucchettos are color-coded to denote rank in the Catholic Church: the Pope wears a white zucchetto, cardinals wear red zucchettos, bishops wear purple zucchettos, and priests wear black zucchettos (although priests nowadays rarely wear them). 

The zucchetto designates that a man is a servant of God and stands in the presence of God.

Here's a drawing of Pope Gregory, one of the most influential popes during the Middle Ages.