Can the Pope be wrong?

Question

I think so - how can he accept the teaching of Islam - it makes no sense to me - the only way to the Father is through Jesus - the Bible is so clear on this - Islam and Judism reject Jesus why does the Pope seem to over step what the Bible says and gives them both a pass

Answer 1

+ Papal Infallibility +

The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times.

The Pope is only infallible when he, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true.

This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18) and "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16).

At all other times the Pope can be just as sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#891
http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

+ Judaism +

The Catholic Church officially teaches:

When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, "the first to hear the Word of God.

The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant.

To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ"; "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."

Neither all Jews indiscriminately at that time, nor Jews today, can be charged with the crimes committed during the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accursed as if this followed from Holy Scripture.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt2art4p2.htm#597
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#839

+ Islam +

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

"It is my ardent hope that Muslim and Christian religious leaders and teachers will present our two great religious communities as communities in respectful dialogue, never more as communities in conflict."
-- Pope John Paul II, Meeting with Muslim Leaders in Omayyad Great Mosque, Damascus, May 6, 2001.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#841

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Isa. 35:8, 54:13-17 - this prophecy refers to the Church as the Holy Way where sons will be taught by God and they will not err. The Church has been given the gift of infallibility when teaching about faith and morals, where her sons are taught directly by God and will not err. This gift of infallibility means that the Church is prevented from teaching error by the power of the Holy Spirit (it does not mean that Church leaders do not sin!)

Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14,22 - the early Church is identified as the "Way" prophesied in Isaiah 35:8 where fools will not err therein.

Matt. 10:20; Luke 12:12 - Jesus tells His apostles it is not they who speak, but the Spirit of their Father speaking through them. If the Spirit is the one speaking and leading the Church, the Church cannot err on matters of faith and morals.

Matt. 16:18 - Jesus promises the gates of Hades would never prevail against the Church. This requires that the Church teach infallibly. If the Church did not have the gift of infallibility, the gates of Hades and error would prevail. Also, since the Catholic Church was the only Church that existed up until the Reformation, those who follow the Protestant reformers call Christ a liar by saying that Hades did prevail.

Matt. 16:19 - for Jesus to give Peter and the apostles, mere human beings, the authority to bind in heaven what they bound on earth requires infallibility. This is a gift of the Holy Spirit and has nothing to do with the holiness of the person receiving the gift.

Matt. 18:17-18 - the Church (not Scripture) is the final authority on questions of the faith. This demands infallibility when teaching the faith. She must be prevented from teaching error in order to lead her members to the fullness of salvation.

Matt. 28:20 - Jesus promises that He will be with the Church always. Jesus' presence in the Church assures infallible teaching on faith and morals. With Jesus present, we can never be deceived.

The Pope can err in other forms not regarding in faith and morals.

Matt. 13:24-30 - scandals have always existed in the Church, just as they have existed outside of the Church. This should not cause us to lose hope in the Church. God's mysterious plan requires the wheat and the weeds to be side by side in the Church until the end of time.

Matt. 13:47-50 - God's plan is that the Church (the kingdom of heaven) is a net which catches fish of every kind, good and bad. God revealed this to us so that we will not get discouraged by the sinfulness of the Church’s members.

Matt. 16:18 - no matter how sinful its members conduct themselves, Jesus promised that the gates of death will never prevail against the Church.

Matt. 23:2-3 - the Jewish people would have always understood the difference between a person's sinfulness and his teaching authority. We see that the sinfulness of the Pharisees does not minimize their teaching authority. They occupy the "cathedra" of Moses.

Matt. 26:70-72; Mark 14:68-70; Luke 22:57; John 18:25-27 - Peter denied Christ three times, yet he was chosen to be the leader of the Church, and taught and wrote infallibly.

Answer 3

Firstly don`t get into a panic as I can assure you that the Pope does not accept the teaching of Islam, He would cease to be the Pope if He did this,and secondly yes he can make a mistake like anybody else but never on the doctrine of faith, so you see what I am saying.

Answer 4

Firstly, the Pope is human and therefore can make mistakes. However, religious tolerance is never wrong. Secondly, you are only reading the New Testament. Jesus is the way to heaven for the GENTILES or non Jewish people. For the religiously impaired, followers of Judaism. BTW-Judaism is the founding religion of christianity. Jews don't have to accept Jesus because they are GOD's chosen people and are guaranted a spot in Heaven. Also, they speak directly with GOD whereas gentiles speak to Jesus who then speaks to GOD. In case you weren't aware Jesus and GOD are two seperate deities. I'm not even christian and I know that. Next time you read your Bible, read all of it. Especially the Books of Moses which incidently is the Torah in Judaism. Religious idiots.

"Judge not least ye be judged yourself"

Answer 5

We do not reject Jesus. He is a Prophet, like Moses and Mohammed. They are fine men. If you think Jesus is the way, fine, keep going.
I don't understand what the Pope did? In any case, he (whatever he did) wanted to amend the gap made when he made upsetting comments. A man in his position, must be diplomatic. You should learn from him. He did not ask a blessing from a Muslim scholar, why are you so disgusted? When you have a powerful position, you have to smile in the face of your enemy. This way we all will live in peace.

Answer 6

The Pope accepted the teaching of Islam? Really?

That must be breaking news because you're the only one who's heard about it.

Answer 7

He does NOT accept the teaching of Islam, he accepts the fact that they both seem to call Abraham ancestors and they both recognize the one God. He tries to find common ground to work from to start a dialog with them which is much better than pointing out the differences that lead to violence. "Blessed are the peacemakers for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs".

Answer 8

You said, the bible is so clear on Jesus being the only way to the father. But don't you see that the Koran DOESN'T say that?

Answer 9

Jesus in the only way to Heaven. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). He is the only one, not Mary, not the Pope, not any man, whether he dress in black and white. Not even Moha met, just Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

Yes, he's human. The Catholic Church has admitted that they have been wrong on doctrines. A few years back, the prior pope admitted that a burning hell was not taught in the bible.