The Bishop of Rome is the bishop of the Holy See and is more commonly referred to as the Pope. The first Bishop of Rome to bear the title of "Pope" was Boniface III in 607, the first to assume the title of "Universal Bishop" by decree of Emperor Phocas. Earlier Bishops of Rome are customarily extended the title Pope as a courtesy, except in strict historical discourse. The title "Bishop of Rome" is also used in preference to Pope by some members of Eastern Orthodox and Protestant denominations, to reflect their rejection of papal authority over the Christian community.

Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Bishop of Rome is the successor to the primacy of Simon Peter and thus the "Vicar of Christ" for the entire world. Early Bishops of Rome were designated vicar (representative) of Peter; the more authoritative vicar of Christ was substituted for the first time by the Roman Synod of 495 to refer to Pope Gelasius I, an originator of the doctrine of papal supremacy—Petrine supremacy among

The Roman Catholic view is founded on the verses in and . As Christ's Vicar, the Pope claims jurisdiction over the entire Christian Church and supreme authority over all matters of faith and morals. Modern Roman Catholic doctrine concerning the Pope was authoritatively declared in the First Vatican Council (1870) in the Constitution "Pastor Aeternus".

In the Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Bishop of Rome is accorded historical title to "first among equals" among the overseers of the church, and "Supreme Patriarch of the Western Church". The view that the Bishop of Rome has primacy of honor, first in apostolic succession, has unofficial currency in the Anglican communion and in a few other Protestant churches. However, by definition, no Protestant acknowledges the Papal title of "Supreme Head of the Church" or "Patriarch of the Church" or any title that gives him universal ecclesiastical authority, or in their view, claims authority belonging only to the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. ).

See also

• Pope
• Holy See
• Apostolic succession
• Episcopalian
• Bishop

Biskop av Roma Bispo de Roma