2006-10-11 23:10:28 · 8 answers · asked by Annmaree 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A successor is one who comes after another, not of family descent. For example: President Bush succeeded President Clinton who succeeded another President Bush.
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 Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.
With love in Christ.
2006-10-12 17:33:29 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
don't be confused, the papacy is a doctrine instilled by the Catholic church, Pay more attention on how the Christin congregation's were being set up in the first century. It actually consisted of elders making decisions and always acknowledging Jesus is the head of the congregation and his father God Almighty over Jesus.
2006-10-12 06:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by fire 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Celibates cannot have legitimate children. But why can't they have successors?
2006-10-12 06:19:26 · answer #3 · answered by Rajesh Kochhar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
read angels and demons, it explains everything about how the system works!
(only joking... but honestly, the process is pretty boring, they get locked up until they reach a decision... i tell you that in there they have massive orgies. i am serious.)
2006-10-12 06:20:06 · answer #4 · answered by ~maryjane~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's something to do with choir boys and artificial insemination
2006-10-12 06:14:18 · answer #5 · answered by mz2001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He isn't they just like to appear pious
2006-10-12 06:13:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because spirit and blood are of two different things.
2006-10-12 06:34:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
confused but evolving.
2006-10-12 06:12:49 · answer #8 · answered by fleur 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋