2007-07-14 13:14:20 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It takes faith to believe in God. Having a pope doesn't require faith.
2007-07-14 13:19:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Some Catholics "worship" the pope like one "worships" a rock star. He's a symbol of unity that people give honor to, like any celebrity. But there are also a great many Catholics who regard this particular pope as a power-grabbing reactionary and try to think about him as little as possible. Yet they are all Catholics and they all believe in having a pope as a spokesperson. It's just that some take him more seriously than others.
Being a pope doesn't mean you can just say or do whatever pops into your head. Spirit-guided or not, you're still a flawed human being, subject to the moral opinion of the rest of the world. Most popes have some diplomatic skills and measure their words carefully (eventually, at least). Compare other sects and denominations. How do they develop and proclaim a complete, denomination-wide decision?
2007-07-14 20:28:08 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do not worship the pope. The pope is like a priest (and was one at one time or other). He is a figurehead for the Christian religion and the lawgiver. If people "worship" him, they would not be catholics since they only see him as a sort of President of their religion. They respect him, and treat him like royalty, but never "Worship" the man since that is all he is, a man.
2007-07-14 22:28:24 · answer #3 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know anybody who worships the Pope, Catholic or otherwise. Some Catholics pay their respects as they would a head of state and leader of their faith.
If a Catholic did worship the Pope then that would be a great sin, and contrary to the 1st commandment.
2007-07-14 20:23:36 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do *not* worship the Pope. We worship God, alone. The Pope is our global pastor. He is head of the Church and Christ's vicar on Earth. As such, we believe he is guided by the Holy Spirit when he speaks on matters of dogma and doctrine. In these matters, and ONLY these matters, we therefore believe him to be infallible. You may have confused our beliefs about papal infallibility with worship. Let me repeat. We absolutely do NOT worship the Pope. Worship is only for God and is not something we accord to any human person, living or dead.
2007-07-14 20:22:45 · answer #5 · answered by nardhelain 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Catholics don't worship the Pope. He is the head of their religion.
2007-07-14 20:20:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
oh come on Catholics don't worship the Pope. As a matter of fact most don't eve care about the Pope. The only time they really care is when he changes something.
2007-07-14 20:21:35 · answer #7 · answered by Ten Commandments 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We do not worship the pope we simply respect him as the leader of the church, I would suggest you go back to school get educated then ask your questions, I cannot believe the ignorants that we have here on yahoo answers simply unbelievable.
2007-07-14 20:21:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Catholics accept the Pope as their highest authority, but I do not believe it is elevated to worship.
grace2u
2007-07-14 20:18:21 · answer #9 · answered by Theophilus 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say that they 'very highly respect' the Pope. There are different levels of clergy in the Catholic church - priests, bishops, cardinals, arch bishops... and the Pope is the highest ranking clergy in the Catholic church.
2007-07-14 20:22:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Worship is reserved for the Holy Trinity. The Bishop of Rome is a man. No catholic, "Roman" or otherwise, worships any man.
2007-07-14 20:19:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋