What is the role of the papacy?

What is the role of the papacy?

The Petrine office continues Christ's ministry in the world in a visible fashion so that the unity of the Church may be known in all ages and places by the unity of faith, sacraments and governance of those who believe in Christ. Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches,

CCC 880-882 When Christ instituted the Twelve, “he constituted [them] in the form of a college or permanent assembly, at the head of which he placed Peter, chosen from among them.” ... The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.... This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.... 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.”

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