Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)
The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.
The current Pope is not worshiped. He is the elected pastor of the worldwide Catholic Church, the direct successor of Simon (the Rock) Peter.
All world leaders were one just "any other" man or woman. But they are selected by God and his fellow humans to fill important positions.
With love in Christ.
2006-07-12 18:30:37
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answer #1
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answered by imacatholic2 7
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Catholics don't worship the pope. Let's get that straight, first off.
Secondly, yes he is just a man. St. Peter was only a man, too. How many of you hold St. Peter, the very rock the church was built on, in high regard? The pope serves as a direct successor to St. Peter in the Catholic church. Saint Peter's position and power in the church has been handed down over the centuries, and the Pope is the modern embodiment of St. Peter, the rock. The most beloved of the apostles.
Do you understand why he is so important now?
2006-07-12 05:44:02
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answer #2
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answered by Shawn S 3
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First of all, no Catholic person ever worships the Pope. We only worship God.
Second, the Pope is important because he is the successor to Peter, who Christ commissioned as the Rock upon whom He would build His Church. Peter -- and by extension, all his successors -- was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven by Christ Himself.
We know this because the Gospel of Matthew tells us so.
In the sense that he is mortal and as prone to sin as the rest of us, you're right in saying that the Pope is "a regular man."
When people "cry" and get excited over seeing him, or when they show respect in his presence, these sentiments are being expressed more for the office and the position he holds, and not necessarily to him personally.
2006-07-12 05:39:56
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Never sure where protestants get this from.
The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He's a man, with the normal range of human vice and virtue.
Some people may cheer for him and turn out to see him, then again, people cheer the President of the United States and Jessica Simpson, that hardly means they worship either of them.
2006-07-12 05:40:34
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answer #4
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answered by P. M 5
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Isn't worshipping the pope considered making him an idol which is against hte 10 Commandments? I like your question.
2006-07-12 05:37:14
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answer #5
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answered by Meg 3
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He is the Bishop of Rome. Just as my Pastor is the Bishop of our congregation. He became important by decree from the Emperor and for no other reason. He is to be respected and seen as a brother in Christ (as long as he doesn't worship a mere woman too.)
2006-07-12 05:40:46
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Ok... that first answer their is b.s.
we don't worship the Pope
we respect him and know that he is the authority on faith and moral matters.... nothing else... most of the stuff he says is not dogma... meaning that you still have freedom to chose what to believe... but seriously you should listen to him... look at Regan and the end of the cold war... or look at Bush not listening and getting into the Iraq mess
2006-07-12 05:40:37
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answer #7
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answered by fatherbobmarley2 1
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If you're addressing this to everyone than I'd have to say that the Pope has no meaning to me or those of my belief system. If you are one of the 2+ billion Cathilocs than the Pope is your conduit to God (an incorrect belief, but it's their belief). PEACE!
2006-07-12 05:40:21
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answer #8
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answered by thebigm57 7
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The Pope's function is to maintain each and each and every of the historic artifacts, literatures etc. from the days of Jesus onward. little question simply by Roman Empire and that's heritage, there's a strong connection with the Empire and Church which likely in those days were very arguable when we in contemporary days look decrease back. yet you ought to remember, that is what the international became like everywhere. It became continually extremely savage and conflict torn with "Kings" and rulers struggling with to triumph over new lands. So why paint purely the church as evil even as the total international became that way? As guy became extra civilized, the church became able to concentration extra on that's piety extremely than attempting to sink sense in Roman rulers etc. i imagine by employing a procedures the awesome Pope in contemporary day memory is John Paul who purely surpassed. He became a impressive guy and fairly reached out to the international, to the youngsters (in case you talked about him and that i have been given to finish that two times in my lifetime) you ought to understand he exuded no longer something yet kindness and goodwill. the very truth he named this Pope (supposedly) as his successor might want to characterize he had multiple faith in him. JP is a complicated act to persist with, and it's going to take a life-time for this Pope to rule and be judged in his personal acceptable, yet as I suggested we were very fortunate to have lived in an era the position we were able to have JPs impact on the international. regrettably i do not imagine the Christianity which lives contained in the rustic compares a lot with the Christianity of the RC faith...the criteria at the instantaneous are not the same as some religions are too severe and in accordance to lies (that is what you get once you combine authorities and faith...do you fairly imagine they don't manage you human beings? awaken!) to really artwork in in the present day's international. i imagine JP knew that, and in ordinary words sought to carry human beings which comprise goodness, because all Jesus requested for became that folk loved one yet another and lived a existence that thrilled the Lord. what's so incorrect with that? You by no potential once heard the Pope blast absolutely everyone or choose them...as appears the mentality of many religions...it extremely is why i do not provide them any credence in any respect. all of us might want to stay by employing celebration...and God would not favor human beings's riches in his living house...he needs the individuals.
2016-11-06 06:32:33
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answer #9
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answered by newnum 4
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I don't know ne1 who "worships" the pope, but he is the head of the church and is a very holy man.
2006-07-12 05:39:04
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answer #10
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answered by dattabass 2
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