Is the Popes' power equal to the Queen of England?

Question

Is the Popes' power equal to the Queen of England?

Answer 1

They are both Heads of State, though I don't think that they will be having a shouting contest as to who has the most power.

The Pope is Christ's Vicar on Earth of the Universal Church.

The Queen is Supreme Governor on Earth of the Anglican Church.

The Queen has met several Popes in audience at the Vatican, when She dressedin accordance with Vatican protocul and wore a long   black dress and black veil covering the face. Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family received His Holiness Pope John Paul II during His pastoral visit to Great Britain.  Despite what others may say, the two Heads of State enjoy a cordial relationship.

Catholics most certainly do not pray to the Pope.  I don't know whether to laugh or cry at some peoples' ignorance.

Answer 2

Realistically in political terms, it is the Pope.

The Pope, like the Queen, is also a monarch. The Pope is also an absolute monarch and excerises supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Vatican City. The Pope also has extensive powers over the Catholic Church, and from that, the +1 billion Catholics over the world.

Whilst the Queen retains extensive powers over her own realms, practice and tradition leaves the bulk of these powers to be excercised by the government and the Prime Minister. This leaves the Queen's role limited to be consulted and provide advice. Given such things are never discussed, it is not clear how much the Queen can wield through this role.

Unrealistically , it is the Queen. Technically she could dismiss the government and as head of the armed forces she could launch a full scale nuclear strike on the Vatican, destroying the Papacy forever.

Answer 3

In England, No that's why theres the no catholics in the royal family rule.

Globally yes He is the most powerful person in the world.

Answer 4

As Stalin famously asked :- "Remind me, - how many divisions and tanks does the Pope have?"    

(or was it Kruschev? - I've forgotten now,  and it doesn't really matter. The point is in the question, not the asker!)

Answer 5

His power is much more.

Answer 6

i think the key is influence rather than power.......the pope has more influence which makes him more powerful even if the queen has more authority......

Answer 7

well im pretty sure his power over the vatican is eaqual to that of the queen. and he has power of the devoted Roman Catholics he has plenty power over so yes he kinda does

Answer 8

No. The British monarchy is a "constitutional monarchy", where the sovereign is more of a symbolic figure. The Queen's powers are exercised upon the advice of her prime minister. She does however possess certain reserve powers which she may exercise at her own discretion. The monarch holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister, as well as regular audiences with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the Prime Minister's and Cabinet's decisions.

On the other hand, Vatican City is one of the remaining four states that is governed by a "absolute monarchy." Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the monarch has the power to rule his or her land or state and its citizens freely, with some laws or legally-organized direct opposition in force. Although some religious authority may be able to discourage the monarch from some acts and the sovereign is expected to act according to custom, in an absolute monarchy there is no constitution or body of law above what is decreed by the sovereign.

Note: Actually, there is no longer a King or Queen of England, there is only a King or Queen of the United Kingdom. The last reigning monarch of England was Queen Anne and she died almost 200 years ago. The current British monarch is Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and she never held the title "Queen of England", this title has been long extincted since the Act of Union of 1707.

Most people seems to make the common mistake of using the term "English" and "British" interchangeably when referring to the British monarchy. The British rule started in the early 18th century, when England and Scotland was united as a single state. Monarchs from then on were referred to as "British monarchs." Prior to that, it was known as the English rule, with an "English monarch" on the throne.

Answer 9

Oh, honey - he's a LOT more powerful than HRH Liz; he's richer, and has more subjects, too ;-)

Answer 10

Queen of England? You mean Queen of the United Kingdom. My family is Scottish and that annoys me quite a lot. My family helped set up the throne in the state that it is (Scottish wars of Independence, and no, Braveheart isn't a reliable resource).

Anyway, no.

Answer 11

No, it's greater as his word is Law to all Roman Catholics in the world, after all he's "infallible". Some Roman Catholics pray to the Pope as well as Jesus and God (To be made a saint you need to have "miracles" assigned to you).