There's a lot of things the world doesn't NEED. And I suppose the Pope is one of them, but he is highly respected by many so there's no need to get rid of him.

Why O why did I get negged for this? Oh boo hoo hoo.:-(

I think for some they have a need. I personally see him as a figure that many praise rather than their God. Here you have a man who dresses in some of the finest materials, a crown hat and towers himself over flocks of people like he is God himself. From what I see he performs no miracles, he saves no souls. He judges the actions of others and self appoints himself as Gods go to guy. For a Bible to state "thou shall place no other god before me". Makes me see the pope as a god. Perhaps his presence makes people feel closer to God I do not know but to me he is nothing more than a God wannabe.

If your a Catholic yes....

to keep order in the Catholic faith

The world may not NEED one, but those who follow him may.

Does the world even need religion? - a more important question.

Not that i'm aware of.

No there are too many religious fanatics in the world but nothing will change because roman catholics beleive the pope is infalliable :P

The world no. Various peoples, yes.

Does the world need bears in the woods?! = You bet! ;-)

The Pope is firstmost a man of God and always has been. Then, as a non-catholic, I see him as a peacemaker. The world could always use more of both of those kind of people.

Devout Catholics would say yes. Non-Catholics like myself, no.

Who are we to judge the necessity of a gift from God? John 21:15-17 states: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. Matthew 16:17-19 states: Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. The Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholic Christians, the direct successor of Simon Peter. The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.shtml#880 With love in Christ.

Absolutley not. The Catholic Church, like any other big organization, needs a head but this should be for administrative and possibly ceremonial purposes only. The head should not be thought of as being any more holy or closer to God than any other person is. Whether they admit it to themselves or not, many catholics are involved in a kind of worship of the Pope and this is clearly against the teachings of Jesus. How anybody, particularly the 'most holy man alive' can square the Vaticans build up of wealth (10-15 billion US$) with Jesus's teaching of giving to the poor is beyond me.

The Catholic world, yes. But obviously, non-Catholics like me don't need one. I respect his position though.

Wow! Look at how history would have changed, wars NOT waged, lives saved, etc. if there had been no pope.

I don't know, would we still have Communism if Pope JP2 hadn't encorage Catholics and non-Catholics to pray for a safe end to communist in Northren Europe Speaking of spirtial leaders

No. He is just a King of a false and evil religious system.

The world? Most certainly not. Complete and utter waste of money. +5

Very good question. Why there is a human being which takes the authority of God for humans? All in the name of a carpenter who lived for masses and died. 14 mil dollar budget for maintaining Vatican.

The world doesn't, but the part of it that is Roman Catholic does. Does the world need people who make a habit of ridiculing people who are different to themselves?