There are no fewer than thirty titles for the office of the Papacy, many of which are unknown to most people. The more familiar titles are: pope, bishop of Rome, Supreme Pontiff, and holy father. In various ages of church history you will find that one or two titles come to dominate in a given period, often reflecting the political and historical realities of the age in an attempt to highlight the power and authority of the office of the Papacy against certain claims by others.
In our own times since the Second Vatican Council the popes have chosen to use two titles that express well the point of our Gospel reading today: "the Servant of the Servants of God", and "Pontifex Maximus (Greatest Bridge Builder). The latter title was borrowed from ancient Roman paganism; it was the title of the high priest in the temple of Jupiter and became a government office. The title, however, conveys well the ministry of the pope, and by extension, the ministry of every baptized Christian: we are called to build bridges between God and humans, and we are called to build bridges between and among people here on earth.
The former title - Servant of the Servants of God - is the only title of the pope directly coming from the Gospels themselves. It comes from this Gospel text, and like the other title 'Pontifex Maximus' it reflects the vocation of every baptized Christian. We are all called to serve and minister to one another, ignoring all hierarchies and human distinctions. Every Christian is baptized as priest, prophet, and king. We are all called to give our lives for one another in fulfillment of the command to "do this in memory of me." And in being servants, rejecting all worldly power, we show forth the beauty of the Gospel, and make as a more concrete reality the reign of God.
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