is the pope dead yet?

i am very tired of every new news story beating us to death. First it was all things schiavo now the pope. My girlfriend is pissed because the story is going to dominate the cover of her "people" magazine. I have to be honest, i do not even know what the pope does or what he is good for. Is he the catholic direct link to god? Why is he such a good pope. Did he ever mess with little boys. If the pope is so special, why can they just elect another one when he dies?