2007-02-09 21:32:04 · 16 answers · asked by good 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Everyone believes he exists but not all accept him as St. Peter's successor.
John 21:15-17 states:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Matthew 16:17-19 states:
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."
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.
2007-02-10 16:07:37 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Pope is the head of the Catholic church. Many Catholics I have met seem to believe that Catholic and Christian is the same thing. I am a Christian, but not a Catholic. I was brought up going to the Salvation Army Church which is also a Christian church and there are many others. I don't like the way many people seem to worship the Pope. He is just a man like any other. I think it is worshipping false idols. Worshipping is for God. Best wishes.
2007-02-10 06:00:34 · answer #2 · answered by Ripplediane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only Christian denomination that uses the hierarchy where the pope is at the head of the organization is the Roman Catholic Church. The pope is known as Pontifex Maximus, which is loosely translated into highest bridge-builder. Catholics believe that for certain things the average person needs the intercession of a priest, who is seen as a bridge to God. So the pope, seeing as how he's at the top of the hierarchy, is the highest-level bridge-builder.
2007-02-10 05:44:52 · answer #3 · answered by Jen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree w/"the Stig."
Catholics view the Pope as infallable; which is not true.
I am a new Catholic; but, this is what I have been told.
He is merely a Bishop.
But, more like the Archbishop in the Anglican or Episcopal Church. So, he is the Head of the Church--the Roman Catholic Church.
2007-02-10 05:56:26 · answer #4 · answered by DC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to "believe" in the Pope. he is a real person, you can see him on the television every Christmas, and he goes on tours.
The pope is the spiritual leader of Roman Catholics, if that's what you mean.
2007-02-10 05:35:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No,not all Christians 'believe' in the pope,or follow his as a religious leader.It's the Catholic Church that does that.
2007-02-10 05:39:01 · answer #6 · answered by Serena 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All Christians believe that there is a person named with the title of "Pope"
not all Christian believe in his authority or role in Christianity.
2007-02-10 05:37:15 · answer #7 · answered by The Stig 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Only Roman Catholics recognize the authority of the Pope.
2007-02-10 05:38:16 · answer #8 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would assume from the TV News that he is a real person, and not fictional? So, I imagine even none Christians believe in him. Or are yo asking if they believe he represents Christ?
2007-02-10 05:37:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, a lot of us are pretty angry about that child-molesting stuff among the priests.
If the Pope were really the representative of Christ on earth, he would have had those sick bastards drawn and quartered in public and hung up as an example to every other sub-human waste of human flesh.
Didn't Jesus himself once say:
"Woe to the man who would harm a single hair on the head of one of these little ones"?
(Representative of not a damn thing...)
2007-02-10 05:36:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I believe you mean Christians. The answer is "no", if by "believe" you mean "believe in the infallibility of the Pope in religious matters". Only Catholics believe that, any even a lot of them are a bit suspicious when it suits them.
2007-02-10 05:38:20 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋