The Pope

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Introduction

Due to the death of Pope Francis, it is time to reflect on the role of the Pope. Why is there a Pope, and what does he actually do? What characterized Francis as Pope? In this interactive lesson, students dive into the papacy: from its origins with Peter to the current issues Pope Francis dealt with. They will learn: who the Pope is and why his role is important, how a Pope is chosen, and what his spiritual and societal duties are. A comparison with other religions is made; do they also have a kind of Pope? This lesson offers depth, dialogue, and critical thinking – and connects with themes such as identity, faith, power, poverty, and global citizenship. It is directly applicable for both lower and upper secondary levels and can easily be personalized to your preference in LessonUp.

Instructions

Before you start teaching, go through the slides and the notes.

This allows you to adjust the lesson to the level of your students or remove a specific task from the lesson.

• First, save the lesson.
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• The lesson is interactive, and students can participate with their devices. Especially with the drag-and-drop questions, it is recommended to follow the lesson on a laptop. A phone screen may be a bit small.
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Are you working without devices?

• Have the students give their answers on paper.
• For the poll questions, you could have them stand up, put post-its on one side of the board, or raise their hands.
• For the drag-and-drop questions, you can do this with the whole class by having different students come to the board. Each student can choose a partner to consult with if they have doubts.

The Pope

Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio

December 17, 1936 - April 21, 2025

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In two minutes, write down as many terms as you can think of when you think of

The Pope

Introduction (1 minute):

On April 21, Pope Francis passed away. That’s why today we’re going to talk about an important religious world leader: the Pope.

What do you already know about him?

Take 2 minutes to write down as many words or concepts as you can that you associate with 'the Pope'.

Think (2 minutes):

Let students brainstorm individually or in pairs.

Have them place the word 'Pope' in the center and write related concepts around it.

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+30 s

Discuss your words with a classmate and follow the steps under the hotspots.

Make a list of all your words.

Underline the words that both of you wrote down.

a.

Which words can you both not explain well?

Put a question mark behind those words.

c.

Are there any words you don’t know or understand?

Ask your classmate for an explanation.

b.

Pair (5 minutes):

Have the students work in pairs or small groups to compare and discuss the words.

Do they know the meaning of all the words? Or are there terms they have heard of, but that don’t have any real meaning for them?

They will divide the words into 'Known' and 'Unknown' by simply placing question marks next to the words they cannot explain themselves.

This will give you immediate insight into the depth of your students' prior knowledge.

Known

2

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One of you writes down your known terms.

One of you writes down the unknown terms.

Unknown

The Pope

Share (5 minutes)

The students write down the known and unknown terms in two minutes.

One student enters the known terms, and another enters the unknown terms.

By having each student enter terms, you quickly gain insight into which concepts are understood and which are not.

Ask probing questions:

Why do you think of that word?

What exactly do you know about it?

Is it meant to be positive or negative?

Who can explain this concept?

Drag the unknown terms to the known half once the students have explained them to each other.

💡 Didactic tip:

Use the word web to identify misconceptions or assumptions and revisit them later in the lesson. For example, if someone writes ‘king,’ ‘strict regime,’ or ‘against women’ — this can lead to deeper discussions about power, tradition, and change in religious institutions.

Knowledge goal

I can explain who the Pope is and what tasks he has within the Catholic Church.

📖

Historical insight

I can describe how the papacy originated and why Peter is considered the first pope.

🕰️

Biography

I can explain why Jorge Mario Bergoglio changed his name to Francis.

Reflection and meaning-making

I can reason why it is important for believers to have one central leader, both in the past and today.

🧠

Judgment formation

I can support my opinion about the pope.

💭

Comparing and analyzing

I can compare the role of the Pope with leaders in other world religions.

🔍

After this lesson...

What is the pope?

A

The leader of all Christian churches

B

The spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church

C

The elected president of Vatican City

D

The leader of all religions

Explanation:

The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, which has more than 1 billion believers worldwide.

He is considered the successor of the apostle Peter and resides in Vatican City. The Pope safeguards Catholic doctrine, appoints church leaders, and speaks out on important global issues.

What are the duties of the pope?

There are always two identical hotspots. Which one describes the correct task?

Drag that hotspot to the pope.

⛪️

🤝

📜

🕊️

✈️

To ensure peace, love for others, and equality

His task is to ensure that there is world peace, love for others, and equality for all people.

🕊️

Visiting countries and dialogue

He travels around the world and seeks dialogue with other religions and world leaders.

✈️

Visiting countries and spreading faith

He travels around the world to spread the Christian faith and to check if churches are adhering to the rules.

✈️

Speaking about global issues

He speaks out on topics such as poverty, climate, refugees, and peace.

🕊️

Leading the faith

He guards the doctrine of the church and explains the faith through speeches, letters, and official documents.

⛪️

Building the Faith

He discusses where and how many churches are being built, what requirements churches must meet, and how the masses are conducted.

⛪️

Maintaining unity in the Church

He ensures that Catholics around the world remain connected in faith and practice.

🤝

Appointing bishops and cardinals

He selects leaders who represent and promote the faith at a local level.

📜

Connecting with the believers

He speaks with as many believers as possible, by shaking hands on Sundays and holidays, to show them that he is the 'father' of all believers.

🤝

Signing contracts

He signs all contracts for the church employees, determines salary scales, and conducts performance reviews.

📜

Who was the first pope?

A

Jesus

B

John the Baptist

C

Peter

D

God

The first pope was Peter

• Peter

• First leader of the Catholic Church

• Peter died as a martyr in Rome

• His successors were the bishops of Rome

• Later, they assumed the title 'Pope.'

• 'Pope' comes from the Latin word papa, which means     father.

Explanation:

Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.

The Bible says that Jesus said to him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (The word ‘Peter’ means ‘rock’ in Greek.)

That sentence turned out to be very important, because it led the first Christians to see Peter as the rock on which Jesus would build his church — in other words, as the first leader of the church. He eventually went to Rome to spread the faith there.

When Peter died in Rome as a martyr, people believed that his role was passed on to the next leader of the church in Rome: the bishop of Rome.

And those bishops? They were later called ‘popes’. So the pope is, in a way, the spiritual father of millions of Catholics around the world.

In summary:

Peter → first leader → died in Rome → successors = bishops of Rome → later called: popes!

"Peter died as a martyr in Rome.

What is a martyr?

A

Someone who dies for their faith

B

Someone who has been religious their whole life

C

Someone who is a saint

D

Someone who has worked for the church

The development of the papacy

• In the first centuries, the pope was primarily a spiritual   leader.

• From 380 AD, Christianity became the state religion of   the Roman Empire. At that time, the pope also gained   political influence.

• Today, the pope is mainly a spiritual and moral leader.

Explanation:

Development of the Papacy

In the first centuries, the pope was mainly a spiritual leader among other bishops. But when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in the year 380, the pope also gained political influence.

During the Middle Ages, this power grew enormously. The pope was seen as God's representative on Earth, above kings and emperors. During this time, the idea also emerged that the pope is infallible when he speaks officially about faith and morals (the dogma of papal infallibility, 1870).

Today, the pope is still the head of the Catholic Church, with more than 1 billion followers worldwide. His role is primarily spiritual and moral leadership, although he still has administrative duties within Vatican City.

Who was Pope Francis?

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17 dec 1936

+ 1946

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When he was in his early twenties, he had a strong feeling that he wanted to dedicate his life to God. He joined the Jesuit order, a group of priests known for their focus on education and social justice.

He became a priest in 1969, and was known for being humble, socially engaged, and a man who always chose to stand with the poor.

1969

As a child, he loved soccer, was serious and quiet, and later worked for a while as a chemical laboratory technician and even as a doorman in a nightclub!

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. He was the son of Italian immigrants and grew up in a modest family with five siblings.

1992

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In 1992, he became the auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, and later archbishop.

Bergoglio lived very simply: he did not live in a luxury home, but in an apartment, cooked for himself, and took the bus to work.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal.

As a cardinal, he remained Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He spoke out against poverty and injustice and was beloved for his humility.

In Rome, he gave quiet but powerful advice.

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2001

On March 13, 2013, after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope. He chose the name Francis, after Saint Francis of Assisi – known for his love of the poor, peace, and nature.

He became the first pope ever from South America, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope with the name Francis.

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2013

On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis passed away. As pope, he was known for his simplicity, warmth, and commitment to peace. He spoke out on climate, poverty, and justice, advocated for the poor and refugees, and actively sought contact with other religions. He tried to make the church more accessible and merciful, staying close to the people.

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2025

You are the spiritual leader of a parish. They not only lead the Mass, but are also

a confidant, a teacher of the faith, and assist during important moments in life.

You are the leader of a regional group of churches/parishes, a diocese. You oversee the priests, ordain new priests, explain Catholic doctrine, and seek to connect society with the faith.

x 400,000 worldwide

x 5,000 worldwide

Only the pope can appoint you to this position. With your colleagues, you choose the pope, advise the pope, and provide leadership in the church. You represent the faith worldwide.

x 200 worldwide

You are the highest leader of the Catholic Church. You live in Vatican City and are the head of over 1 billion Catholics around the world.

x 1 worldwide

Drag the clergy to the correct place.

Priest

Bishop

Cardinal

Pope

"In addition to your educational qualitifications, you must also..."

What else do you need?

A

a. be a man b. married c. donate to charity

B

a. be a human b. unmarried c. no children

C

a. be a saint b. unmarried c. seperated from family

D

a. be a man b. unmarried c. willing to be celibate

To whom does the nuncio send his recommendation? 

A

The Pope

B

The Cardinal

C

The congress of Bishops

D

The Swiss Guard

What must you do before you can become pope?

A

Become a missionary

B

Become a Cardinal

C

Build your own church

D

Perform a miracle

"You have one final thing to do before you become pope.."

What is that final thing?

A

Call your mom

B

Pick a new name

C

Kiss the rings of the Cardinals

D

Sit one week in solitude

1

Yes

2

No

I think it's good that the church has one spiritual leader.

Ask the students about their answer. Can they explain their choice?

Explanation:

Historical perspective:

Since the emergence of Christianity in the first century, there has been a great need for unity and clarity within the young, rapidly growing community of believers. At that time, there were many different views on who Jesus was and how his message should be followed.

The Apostle Peter, who according to tradition was appointed by Jesus himself, played a key role as the leader of the early church in Rome. From that leadership, the idea grew that the bishop of Rome (the pope) was given a special role as the guardian of the true faith and as a symbol of unity.

In the centuries that followed, especially during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, having one central figure helped create order in a church that spanned across all of Europe (and later the world).

The pope was seen as a moral beacon and as the only one able to rise above political conflicts.

In the present day:

Even today, the pope fulfills this unifying role. In a world where the Catholic Church is spread across continents, cultures, and languages, the pope ensures that the core message of the faith remains recognizable and consistent.

In addition, he has a symbolic and moral role: the pope can draw global attention to issues such as peace, justice, poverty, climate change, and refugees, making him a voice heard by millions — even beyond the Church.

For many believers, having one spiritual leader who represents their faith provides comfort and confidence, especially in times of crisis or moral confusion.

1

Ja

2

Nee

Does the pope have influence on young people?

Ask the students about their answer. Can they explain their choice?

Explanation:

The influence of the pope on young people varies greatly depending on region, culture, and religious involvement. In countries where Catholicism is deeply rooted, such as in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Europe, many young people still feel strongly connected to the pope, especially when he speaks out on issues like poverty, climate change, and peace.

At the same time, in Western societies — such as in the Netherlands and Belgium — there is a growing distance between young people and the church. Many young people are critical of the church's traditional stances on issues like sexuality, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ matters. In this context, the pope sometimes feels distant or even irrelevant.

However, even non-religious young people view Pope Francis as a sympathetic figure due to his humility, humanity, and social involvement. His public statements on issues such as sustainability or refugee problems also reach young people who do not have a religious background, via media and social networks.

So, the pope still has influence, but it has become more symbolic, moral, and cultural than directly guiding young people in their life choices or religious experience.

The pope is not only a spiritual leader of the Church, but also plays a larger role in the world.

Write down what you think about it.

1

Ja

2

Nee

Does every religion have a pope?

In Catholicism, the Pope is not just any leader. He is the spiritual head of more than a billion people, a symbol of unity, and someone whose voice is heard worldwide on major issues like peace, poverty, and climate.

What about other religions?

✡️ Judaism

There is no pope. Judaism has rabbis, who teach, explain, and lead the community. They are important, but they are not connected to one central leader worldwide.

☪️ Islam

No pope here either. There are imams who lead prayers and offer explanations of the Quran. In some branches, like Shia Islam, there is a sort of spiritual leader, the ayatollah. But even there, there is less central power compared to the pope.

☸️ Buddhism

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is a well-known spiritual leader. He is sometimes compared to the pope, but: he represents one branch of Buddhism and is more of a spiritual than administrative leader.

Discuss with your students:

🧭 Think about it:

Why would Catholicism choose one central leader?

What are the benefits of having such a figure (like the pope)?

And what could the disadvantages be?

Can you think of a leader today (outside of religion!) who serves as a kind of 'moral compass' for the world?

1

Yes

2

In doubt

3

No

 I think it is important that a new pope is appointed.

Spin the spinner and answer

the questions together.

Reflection questions

The spinner contains a variety of questions about the pope and his role.

You can decide whether to have these questions answered by the class as a whole, in small groups, or in pairs.

You can also determine the number of questions you want to address. You know your group best and can judge what they can handle.

THE POPE

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