In my fourth blog, I will discuss how the Catholic perception of authority, defined in the April 24th COMM 480 lecture as the power structure of church leaders and the boundaries they set, has become more symbolic through the depictions of various leaders, specifically the portraits of the Popes shown below. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church is complex and highly structured with multiple levels of power and positions, each with different titles. Oversimplified, the Catholic hierarchy begins with the religious people or laity, followed by deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and finally, the Pope. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church, which quotes Lumen gentium,
“The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, ‘is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.’” "For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered," (1964).
This definition from The Vatican regarding the Pope’s responsibilities, role, and power within the Catholic church remains true today. Catholics continue to view him as the supreme ruler of God’s church on Earth and a direct line to God. However, the Pope’s political power and authority has changed over the centuries. Especially during the Renaissance, the Pope had a say in everything from science to literature, art, politics, and more. Today, he still maintains total control of the Catholic Church, but he does not have nearly the same political power, authority, and influence over the rest of the world as he did centuries ago. In the 21st Century, His Holiness is viewed by Catholics as more of an icon, idol, and social figure whose face is put on all sorts of religious objects, souvenirs, artwork, and more.
In the images below, two different Popes are depicted. Although these artworks were created centuries apart, they are of men who occupied the same powerful position in the Catholic Church. The differences in the depictions of Papal authority can be seen when comparing their differences. The first portrait, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, depicts an ancient Pope in full Papal dress, including the Papal tiara. He looks at the audience from a three-quarter angle and wears a stern expression on his face. The second image, taken at a local Florentine artist’s shop, is a micro-mosaic portrait of Pope Francis. He is dressed in the casual, all white cassock with a matching zucchetto and silver cross around his neck. Most significantly, Pope Francis is facing the admirer full on and is smiling. This is the most obvious difference between the two Papal images.
The Papal attire of the first image, although different than the one worn in the second image, is still used and worn by the Pope on special occasions today. The difference in attire and in facial expression in the second image helps to make Pope Francis look more approachable and friendly, rather than powerful and intimidating like the first image. In the past, Papal portraits were meant to emphasize the power and global authority of the Pope, whereas today, the images of the current Pope reflect his social, cultural, and symbolic presence and authority. This change is intentional. Because His Holiness is now seen as more of a symbolically authoritative figure, ruling the Church and holding its highest position with little political power outside the institution, the Church wants him to be depicted as open, kind, and understanding in order to appeal to a broader audience. In doing so, the Pope’s image and position can be more widely accepted around the world. This change in authority from powerful political symbol to social symbol is exemplified through the visual differences of the Papal portraits below.
Catechism of the Catholic Church. (n.d.). Retrieved from
