[PAR] [TLE] Universal power [SEP] In the Middle Ages, the term universal powers referred to the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope.  Both were struggling for the so-called "Dominium mundi", or world dominium, in terms of political and spiritual supremacy.  The emperor and the pope maintained their respective authorities through diverse factors such as territorial dispersion, low level of technic and productive development in feudal mode of production, and social and political tendency of feudalism to decentralization of power. [PAR] [TLE] Pope [SEP] The pope (Latin: "papa" from Greek: πάππας "pappas", a child's word for "father"), also known as the pontiff (from Latin "pontifex Maximus" "greatest bridge-builder"), is the Bishop of Rome, and therefore ex officio the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.  The primacy of the Roman bishop is largely derived from his role as the purported apostolic successor to Saint Peter, to whom Jesus is supposed to have given the keys of heaven and the powers of "binding and loosing", naming him as the "rock" upon which the church would be built.  The pope is also head of state of Vatican City, a sovereign city-state entirely enclaved within Rome.  The current pope is Francis, who was elected on 13 March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI.
[PAR] [TLE] Universal power [ SEP ] In the Middle Ages , the term universal powers referred to the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope . Both were struggling for the so - called " Dominium mundi " , or world dominium , in terms of political and spiritual supremacy . The emperor and the pope maintained their respective authorities through diverse factors such as territorial dispersion , low level of technic and productive development in feudal mode of production , and social and political tendency of feudalism to decentralization of power . [PAR] [TLE] Pope [ SEP ] The pope ( Latin : " papa " from Greek : πάππας " pappas " , a child 's word for " father " ) , also known as the pontiff ( from Latin " pontifex Maximus " " greatest bridge - builder " ) , is the Bishop of Rome , and therefore ex officio the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . The primacy of the Roman bishop is largely derived from his role as the purported apostolic successor to Saint Peter , to whom Jesus is supposed to have given the keys of heaven and the powers of " binding and loosing " , naming him as the " rock " upon which the church would be built . The pope is also head of state of Vatican City , a sovereign city - state entirely enclaved within Rome . The current pope is Francis , who was elected on 13 March 2013 , succeeding Benedict XVI .
Besides the Holy Roman Emperor, who was also considered the a universal power or the pontifex Maximus?
Besides the Holy Roman Emperor , who was also considered the a universal power or the pontifex Maximus ?
Pope
Pope