Why are snipers a routine part of the pope's security?
The short answer
Besides being head of the Church, the pope is head of state of Vatican City. Like other heads of state, he has an armed security detail — and John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in 1981.
A head of state
The pope is the temporal head of Vatican City as well as spiritual head of the Church. Other heads of state have fully armed security, so it is no surprise the pope does too.
Past danger
John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in 1981. It makes sense for the Vatican to prevent anyone from trying to harm a pope again.
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