Vatican removes title 'patriarch of the West' after pope's name

Published: 2006-03-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the 2006 edition of the Vatican's official yearbook, the pope is no longer referred to with the title "patriarch of the West," a change with potential ecumenical implications. The Vatican press office confirmed the deletion of the title March 1, but offered no explanation for the change. In the 2006 book, the pope is described as "bishop of Rome, vicar of Jesus Christ, successor of the prince of the apostles, supreme pontiff of the universal church, primate of Italy, archbishop and metropolitan of the province of Rome, sovereign of Vatican City State and servant of the servants of God." The 2006 edition, which was presented to Pope Benedict XVI Feb. 18 and was to be on sale to the public by March 10, is the first edition printed since Pope Benedict's April 19 election. In previous editions, the title "patriarch of the West" had been listed after "supreme pontiff of the universal church."

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