In some sense, the Roman Catholic Church is the last vestige of the Roman empire. The Pope is sometimes floated as someone who might have a claim to the title o

In some sense, the Roman Catholic Church is the last vestige of the Roman empire. The Pope is sometimes floated as someone who might have a claim to the title of Roman Emperor. (Personally, I think the Ottomans have the best claim here, but that's neither here nor there.) But no, at the time Julius Caesar was Pontifex Maximus, he wasn't emperor. It was an elite priesthood office. Hundreds of years later, the Roman Emperors claimed the title. In the 15th century, the Roman Pope started formally claiming it for themselves.