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Is he considered either a king or a great non-Jewish scholar?

Isaac Moses
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Aaron Ross
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    Hi, Aaron Ross, and welcome to Mi Yodeya! Thanks for the bringing this question here. Although they do not directly answer your question, you may be interested in the following (somewhat) related questions: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/39040 and http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/39045 and http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/27159 and this answer: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/37737. – Fred Mar 01 '15 at 19:47
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    On a lighter note, what's the proper blessing for the Czar? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKnOhjH1-9w – Fred Mar 01 '15 at 19:48
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    Additionally, consider the possibility that even if he is considered a monarch of sufficient caliber that a blessing would otherwise be recited, perhaps his status as head of the Catholic religion would render such a blessing inappropriate. – Fred Mar 01 '15 at 22:02
  • @Fred, the Queen of England is in a similar situation vis-a-vis the Anglican Church, so she would also have to be disqualified if that were the case. http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/55929/does-one-make-a-bracha-when-seeing-the-pope#comment160770_59920 – Yishai Jun 04 '15 at 18:32
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    @Yishai I guess that's possible, but I'm more inclined to think that that case may be different because her primary and most distinctive role is not that of a religious leader. Further, I don't think she usually wears conspicuous symbols of her religion. So reciting the blessing wouldn't carry the appearance of reciting a blessing over someone in their role as leader of a foreign religion. – Fred Jun 04 '15 at 19:41

2 Answers2

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The Pope is the head of state and government of the Vatican City, which is an internationally recognised nation-state. As the Vatican even controls a small military (The Swiss Guards).

As an absolute monarch, he has the capacity to exert control over the military (if he desires) and is technically capable of enacting capital punishments in accordance with Canon Law (Catholic Halacha). We may liken this with the President of the United States who has the power to execute or commute capital punishment, for whom one says the berachah for seeing a king, according to R' Ovadia Yosef זצ”ל (see above linked answer).

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Noach MiFrankfurt
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  • I intentionally avoided probably his greatest power thereon, which is of course pursuant to being Catholic. I'll edit in my other rationales. – Noach MiFrankfurt Mar 02 '15 at 16:08
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    Can you cite a source for the existence of capital punishment within Canon Law and the Pope's discretion thereon? – Isaac Moses Mar 02 '15 at 16:30
  • For the scholar blessing, the commentaries on Shulchan Aruch clearly say it has to be a wisdom classically recognized by Judaism, e.g. mathematics, medicine, or music; "not an expert on a foreign faith." – Shalom Mar 02 '15 at 17:08
  • @Shalom, what I meant was that his greatest power over life and death is the ability to damn or save individuals (through Yoshke) – Noach MiFrankfurt Mar 02 '15 at 18:23
  • @IsaacMoses, I've never learned hilchot haCatolikim, but I know that there are capital punishments for heresy, among other things in the Canon Codes. I would be more accurate if I had better knowledge of the sources. – Noach MiFrankfurt Mar 02 '15 at 18:25
  • Historically the church certainly carried out executions (inquisition trials, witch trials, etc), and sponsored or condoned widespread killing (crusades). Whether it has these powers under its religious law nowadays I don't know, but if they could justify such actions in the past and they claim their law is from God (and, presumably, therefore not flawed), it seems reasonable to assume their law still supports this. Also there's "papal inerrancy" [sic]. – Monica Cellio Mar 02 '15 at 19:00
  • This answer would be greatly improved by citing a rabbinic authority who confirms your speculation. – Double AA Mar 02 '15 at 19:39
  • Being a religious figure could likely change the result. You did not discuss that in your question. You can at least stipulate that this might change the Halacha. – LN6595 Mar 03 '15 at 21:30
  • @Shalom, we can certainly make the bracha for a great scholar on the current pope, him having a masters in climatology, AFAIK, and all. – Noach MiFrankfurt Jul 02 '15 at 13:16
  • Pope Francis today outlawed capital punishment (he still has the power to reinstitute it tomorrow fwiw) – Double AA Aug 02 '18 at 13:00
  • @DoubleAA I heard as much. I will b"n address that soon – Noach MiFrankfurt Aug 02 '18 at 13:34
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You said correctly that one makes a blessing on a king and on a great non-Jewish scholar.

A king is a head of state. The Poskim debate if one recites this blessing on a president or prime-minister. The blessing is definitely not recited on a powerful person who is not a head of state.

A great non-Jewish scholar is defined as one who has exceptional knowledge in one of the sciences. See Blessings on Wise Men and Kings.

The pope does not meet either condition. There is no blessing for a respected religious leader of a (non-Jewish) religion.

LN6595
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