Recently, the passing of Pope Francis has garnered global attention, making the events of last year's Papal Election seem like a reality. Pope Francis was bid farewell by over 200,000 people today at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, highlighting his significant influence. The papal system, as the core authority of Catholicism, began to take shape in the early century. Even today, the role of the Roman Pontiff continues to bear the heavy responsibility of leading the global Catholic Church.

In the early days of Christianity, there was no unified leadership structure. In the first century, church organizations were led by apostles and elders who preached in various regions, with each local church being autonomous and equal. However, by the second century, due to persecution from heretics, the church established a clear threefold ministry consisting of bishops, elders, and deacons. At that time, the episcopal system gradually formed, with bishops becoming the sole leaders of local churches, emphasizing apostolic succession.

In the third and fourth centuries, influenced by the administrative divisions of the Roman Empire, the church designated provincial bishops, dividing them into five patriarchates representing Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. These five patriarchs were considered equal. Although in 256 AD, Pope Stephen of Rome claimed leadership over the other patriarchs, he faced opposition from them. It wasn't until after Emperor Constantine that Christianity became the state religion, and the Pope became a leader in the spiritual, cultural, and social realms, also participating in secular affairs.