Catholic or not, I think this is an interesting question for all Christians.
2007-07-03 19:18:50 · 17 answers · asked by Zezo Zeze Zadfrack 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The office of the papacy was personally established by Jesus while he was still here on earth.
This makes the Pope the only living link with Jesus Christ.
And the sweeping power Jesus gave to Peter ... Jesus' promise to bind in heaven WHATEVER the Pope choses to bind on earth ... means that no other person can even come close to authorative nature of this definitive leader of the entire earthly church.
In spite of the revisionists who attempt to deny these facts, the whole world accepted and acknowledged them, without fail, for the first 1000 years of modern world history, and over a billion Catholics still do.
Furthermore, the mid 20th century discovery of the bones of St. Peter, the Rock ... underneath the basilica that's named for him, in the Vatican ... proves that Jesus wasn't kidding when he said,"On this Rock I will build my Church."
2007-07-03 20:41:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should mean nothing. Christians are suppose to follow Christ not an elected representative of an organized religion which did not exist until well after Christs death. The Pope is the head of a very powerful religion that has its own dogma and guidelines one is suppose to abide by. They teach the Pope is infallable in his decisions and this is close to blasphemy which the church preaches against. The church has been through many changes over the years which should raise questions of its own. I wonder how Jesus feels about church leaders hiding priests preying own innocent children and filing bankruptcy to keep from paying law suit losses. This is not a knock on catholics or their beliefs but a reality check on the organization and the papacy which do not live the lives they preach to others. Honor your God not religions.
2007-07-04 02:35:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Catholic but I am a Christian.
I think he is the spiritual leader of many people. I don't believe he speaks for God the way most Catholics do.
I even think some Popes may not have even been Christians. However, I loved Pope John Paul II and thought he was a real man of God.
2007-07-04 02:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by fanofchan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God Bless you for your question...
As a Christian, it grieves me that the Catholic Church is where it is today. Wayyyyy back, in the 3rd century or so, it was the protector of Truth. Then this idea came around the the Bible is a collection of allegories, and it all went downhill from there. Pretty soon they added the Apocrypha, and added all kinds of non-biblical teachings such as praying to saints and purgatory and limbo. I could go on, but I won't...
The question was the about the office of the papacy...I think that the current Pope is the closest thing to a true Biblical Scholar we have seen in the office as long as I have been around (41 years, thank you very much...) He officially ended the teaching of limbo, saying that there is no Biblical basis for it (YEA!!!) and he is not afraid to take on skeptics based on evidence and fact, not feelings and theory. So I actually applaud this Pope for what he has started.
I love my Catholic brothers--I have very close friends and family who are Catholic. I just fear that they miss the boat by putting their faith in their good works for salvation, when the Bible and Jesus tell us time and time again that it is not by works that we are saved. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, who paid for our sins by shedding his blood and life on the cross, who showed His deity by His resurrection. We are saved in order to DO good works, for this is God's plan for us. But I digress.
Catholics, please do not take my words as mean spirited. I love you, and God loves you. The Catholic Church has done a lot of very good things in the world, and a lot of very bad things, just like any other HUMAN institution--yes even Protestant churches are guilty too. I am just concerned for your salvation, and I hope that you will read your Bibles as they are intended--God's revealed and Holy Word, Truth. Take what is there and believe on it. Tradition is nice, but Truth is salvation.
2007-07-04 02:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Todd J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greed. Did you know that there are billions of dollars worth of art and other gifts to the pope in the Vatican Library. Other that stuff is collecting dust; it isn't even being displayed. Why aren't they selling this or donating it. Aren't they supposed to be helping people? What about all those poor devout Catholics in Latin America? Yeah, the popes doing TONS to help them. Ah to bad, typing just does not convey sarcasm.
2007-07-04 03:27:41 · answer #5 · answered by Marzo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before Pope John Paul II died, I did NOT want Joseph Ratzinger to become our next Pope ... but he did, and I find that although I can't agree with EVERYTHING he does, that he's doing ENOUGH to be an 'acceptable Pope' for this time ... and I think that is GOD working 'through him' and not him just doing what he wants to ... because he was an EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE Cardinal and he's actually a fairly LIBERAL Pope.
2007-07-04 02:23:47 · answer #6 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The papacy is a heresy and the Pope of Rome is a heretic...
2007-07-04 02:23:02 · answer #7 · answered by Jacob Dahlen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an Evangelical protestant, it means little. The Pope excercises no authority over me.
2007-07-04 02:22:59 · answer #8 · answered by Graham 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not catholic. I suppose he means well, tries to do the right thing and is a nice man. Otherwise, I have no opinions of him.
2007-07-04 02:23:30 · answer #9 · answered by lyllyan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing, the Pope is mere man.
2007-07-04 02:23:05 · answer #10 · answered by Sweet Suzy 777! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋