To catholics: On whose authority was the pope made the head of the christian church?

Question

Is Jesus not the head of the church, and he made a way for us to have fellowship with God(Jehovah). So why do we need the pope as an intercessor.

Answer 1

The belief that a Christian requires a human intercessor between himself and heaven is called "sacerdotalism", and it is quite pagan. Jesus himself condemned the use of religious titles, such as "Father", and of course "Pope" comes form the Latin word for "Father".

(Matthew 23:5-10) All the works they [hypocritical religious leaders] do they do to be viewed by men... They like the most prominent place... But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your [religious] teacher... Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your [religious] Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for your [religious] Leader is one, the Christ.


True Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) believe the bible to teach that the heavenly Jesus Christ himself acts as the High Priest for all mankind. Jesus has associate 'kings and priests' who assist him from the heavens.

(Hebrews 4:14-15) We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... For we have as high priest, not one who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in all respects like ourselves, but without sin.

(Hebrews 8:1) We have such a high priest as this, and he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens

(Revelation 1:5-6;5:10) Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” ...made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father... [The Lamb] made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.

(Revelation 20:6) Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection [that is, to heaven]; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20040601/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Those of The True Christian Faith have no need of a "pope", or any mortal "intercessor"... The relationship of The True Christian is one-on-one with God.

The original "authority" of the pope was imposed at the point of the sword, just like islam. Any who questioned that authority were beheaded or burned at the stake, or dispatched in some other grizzely way.

All who come to God in The Way He prescribes will receive His free gift of Salvation. Those become part of The Body of The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head.

The Church in not of man or any man invented denomination or cult or sect... The Church is NOT the roman cult of the pope. the roman cult is not of The True Christian Faith.

Answer 3

Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be;
even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





The Pope may explain doctrines more fully, he may go more deeply into them, he can extrapolate from moral principles to shed light on new situations that arise, but he cannot contradict what has been handed down by Christ and the Apostles and still claim infallibility for that teaching.


I challenge Protestants to plunge themselves into early Church history! Read the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Cyril of Jerusalem, Irenaeus, Polycarp, St. Augustine, etc... They are rich with Catholic doctrine -- and the earliest evidence we have for what the Church was like in its earliest days!

Answer 4

Jesus made the seat of Peter the head of the Church. Throughout the ages has he not had a leader in his Church? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua etc all the way until it was Jesus himself and when he left---he left Peter as steward and the steward by the laying on of hands appoints Bishops and they appoint priests. When Peter was due to be crucified he passed it down to his successor and all the way through history.

When St. John was still alive, a problem came up within the Church and so they went to John thinking that he would solve it as he was the last Apostle and he told them to go see the Bishop at Rome and above all he told them to love one another. Period.

Answer 5

To be a leader of God's work. Just like we need a president to lead our country and kings to lead other world wide countries. If we didn't have leaders, we would fall apart!

Answer 6

>>On whose authority was the pope made the head of the christian church?<<

Jesus.

Jesus promises to give Peter authority:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." -- Matthew 16:19

Jesus entrusts Peter with the care of His flock:

"Feed my lambs...tend my sheep...feed my sheep." -- John 21:15-17

Answer 7

The popes are in theory the successors of Saint Peter.

Answer 8

Why, God's own authority of course.

Answer 9

On the authority of Jesus Christ.

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.

The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

We don't.