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| | CNS STORY: Vatican says pope dropped title for theological, historical reasons (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12) |
 | | In the new edition, 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." |
 | | In correct church language, the statement said, the pope could be referred to as patriarch of the Latin-rite church, describing "the special relationship the bishop of Rome" has to all Latin-rite dioceses throughout the world, and not only in the West. |
 | | Dropping the title of patriarch in reference to the pope does not minimize the importance of the patriarchal office, particularly in relation to the ancient Eastern churches, the Vatican said. |
| www.catholicnews.com /data/stories/cns/0601653.htm (571 words) |
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