Vicar of Christ (from
Latin Vicarius Christi) is the term used in different ways, with different
theological connotations throughout history. As the original notion a vicar is of "earthly representative of
God or
Christ" but also used in sense of "person acting as parish priest in place of a real parson" The title is now used in
Catholicism to refer to the
bishops and more specifically to the Bishop of Rome (the pope).