how come there has been a pope since the time dating back to st peter, if Peter didnt believe in continuing?

Question

the sucession? I say, Peter did believe it, and so did the other apostles.

Answer 1

To Larina, Suzy, and Suzi,

It is said that Peter wrote his first Epistle in Rome. 1 Peter 5:13 makes a reference to “Babylon” which is the ancient code word for Rome. Many of the Early Church fathers make mention of Peter’s leadership and martyrdom in Rome. The letters of the Early Church fathers are historical artifacts.

Celibacy is a DISCIPLINE among Catholic Clergy, and is not Dogma. The Church in Her wisdom and guidance by the Holy Spirit can modify this discipline. It is not incongruous that Peter as the first Pope was married, while later successors were not. In the end, we know that Jesus was chaste and unmarried, and thus it makes sense that his vicar on earth would be likewise.

The fact remains that Jesus Christ chose twelve men, and commissioned them to continue His ministry of healing and proclaiming God’s Kingdom. Yes the world needs Christ. Jesus is the invisible head of the Church, and the Bishop of Rome is the visible head of the Church. Jesus could have easily written a gospel and told the multitudes to read it and follow it to the letter, without any guidance from earthly leaders. But that is not what he did. He never told his disciples to go and write the Gospels, but to go and preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations. "Disciple" is another word for student or pupil. Thus, the Apostles had teaching authority given to them by Christ.

Answer 2

Thanks for the explanation, Mary O. It helps but I'm still still missing a point. The Bible never states that Peter is the head of the church (earthly sense, I think we both agree that Jesus is the actual head) and Peter doesn't seem to take the office. The vast majority of instruction came from Paul who was an elder, by his own admission. It appears to me that this would eliminate a hierarchy of leadership that the Catholics (and Protestants for that matter) recognize. My understanding of the Bible is that individual congregations have deacons taking care of needs (such as feeding the Greek widows) preachers (like Peter) who preach and elders who lead the individual congregation. The only office above this is Christ's.

Answer 3

To answer those who say Peter never went to Rome is a misconception. Not only do many historical sources place Peter in Rome for much of his time of teaching but he never left. The burial place of Peter is directly under St. Peter's Basillica in Rome right now. He is the rock upon which the church is built.

Answer 4

Actually, the first and second generation Christian Church believed that Jesus was going to return at any minute. They had no conception that the Church would exist for almost 2,000 years.

This is one of the reasons why the Catholic Church does not predict when the world is going to end, unlike many popular fundamentalist Christian denominations who are always scaring people with predictions of when the world is going to end.

No one on earth knows. It may be tomorrow or in another 2,000 years. It will come like a thief in the night. The point is to always be ready.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

You ignore that Peter was married and there is not evidence that he ever went to Rome..
You also ignore that there is no mention in any Bible catholic or otherwise that a succession of Popes was to be made. The word Pope is not in any Bible.

Answer 6

and Peter was married so if he was the first pope, why don't other popes follow that?

I'm NOT Catholic, btw

I agree with Larina below me. :)

Answer 7

To answer this question would be to exausting and too much typing so I will just say why do we need a pope? we have Christ!