Why do I respect the pope?

Question

Several times I have read people's posts which basically say: Christians follow Jesus and Catholics follow the pope. This is so outlandishly stupid that I'm tempted to not address it. But, I will
Let me put it simply: Christians, if you could somehow go back in a time machine and meet the apostle Peter, how would you react? Would you listen to him? Would you respect the fact that he was given his apostleship by Christ himself? Can you deny that you would be at least a little excited to met this Simon Bar Jonah who Jesus renamed Peter?
Well, that's how we feel about the pope. We believe he is Peter's successor. (Here is a list: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm )
Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, the Son of the Living God. The pope is a man. But, the pope occupies an office we feel was established by Christ himself (Matt: 16: 17-19) and we respect that. That's all there is to it.

Here is more info about the pope if you're interested: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm
http://www.catholic.com/library/church_papacy.asp

Oh, and before you go off the deep end about Papal Infallibility, read this: http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

Answer 1

In the mid 20th century, the bones of St. Peter were unearthed beneath the basilica that was named for him, in the Vatican ... proving that Jesus wasn't kidding when he said, "On this Rock, I will build my church."

Of this there is absolutely no doubt. Anyone can go there, see the place, and verify the archeological provenance with their own eyes.

Jesus said that both he and God the Father selected Peter as the leader of the apostles:

Mat 16:15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

And while the "title" of pope wasn't applied to the office until later, it was Peter who presided at the council of Jerusalem, and it was Peter who "signed off" on the decrees of that council .... setting the precedent for every future council of the church.

It's high time protestants quit using the office of the papacy as a straw man in order to justify their lack of faith and lack of fidelity to the only church that Jesus ever founded, authorized, empowered, and eternally guaranteed ... the Catholic church.

Answer 2

Actually if I had to follow an Apostle, I would follow Paul who was with Luke. Peter, I am going to be very happy to meet, and I hope we sit and talk about many things when we are in New Jerusalem.

Could you imagine having Peter, Paul, John Mark, Jesus, and the other disciples in your place in New Earth?

Whoa!

But one thing I do know about this, Peter was one of the Apostles. There were 12 or Thirteen - depending on how God counted the vote with Matthias. And Jesus wasn't referring to a Pope. He never even mentioned a Pope.

But if you want to revere a Pope, then who would I be to stop you? I am not going to flinch or get in the way.

Just live your convictions, preach Christ.

Answer 3

I love when people answer a question they have no knowledge about.
KITZ, the Pope is Christ on earth to us Catholics, he is infallible IN MATTERS OF RELIGION.
Priests do not believe they become Christ during the changing of the bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ. They take these words from the last supper when Christ said "this is my body and blood, do this in remembrance of me." They (we ) believe during that part of the mass the blood and wine is changed to the body and blood of Christ.

Back to the question. Yes, I would listen to Peter, as I would listen to any of the Apostles.

Answer 4

Riddled in all of the answers are bits and pieces of what I believe to be true. Some have mentioned that Catholics are Pagan.. this is true.. technically (no devout catholic would think so... but if you compare the practices of praying to saints and our traditions of drinking the blood of christ... its all pagan..) however the base of catholics is the same. They believe in god and jesus and want to lead a moral life. The popes of the past were basically kings or strong political leaders with a lot of power. ... I have disdain for them. However the pope that recently died... i truly believe he was a pious man and only wanted the best foreveryone. I do not beleive he is crist.. i just think he is middle management in the church! I am a pagan and believe in all of the beautiful religions and out interpertation of them..... be happy love each other and stop fighting.

Answer 5

I believe in you and respect you. In response to Jesus word.

Faith is our way toward the ultimate presence of God- LOVE. God commands us to love what more to respect since love is unfathomable. The Pope stands to be a Holy Father of Our Faith. I trust God for His generousity: " I will send a laborer for the harvest...," "the laborer are few...," and "as a Father send me so I am sending you."

Our Pope stands in the image of the invisible of God in a perfect relationship between the union of God's love and man. The Pope has a huge role in Faith of the whole church." The Pope is our Father in Faith like Abraham. If we believe in Abraham what more to believe an ordinary man wanted to accept the spiritual invitation of Jesus as a living sacrifice. Go to Pope and learned from him. He will show to you the love that God wanted us- serving the poor without condition.

Believe me I'm a witness of our beloved Father who direct us in full communion with Jesus Christ the present church and savior.

Answer 6

There is absoultely no evidence other than Catholic tradition that Peter was ever in Rome.

The pope is clearly defined in scripture as the antichrist, the head of the woman who rides the beast in revelations.

Peter was not the Rock on which the chruch is founded, Yeshua is the Rock. Do a Bible study on "Rock", do a word study on Petra and Cephas.

Answer 7

Amen. Another analogy-- when you're in a courtroom, you stand for the judge. You don't do it because you know him well enough to even have an opinion of him. Heck, you might disagree with his politics. But you respect the office and the justice that it represents that you do what he says to do. (Admittedly this is a poor theological analogy, but I think it might be helpful to non-Catholics.)

Answer 8

If only you followed the bible too. The pope thinks evolution is a fact, and is contrary to the bible.

Answer 9

Ye s thst is true and we don't worship the Pope, we worship God, we listen to the Pope as our leader, like countries listen to their leaders, like the President or Prime Minister, but we don't worship them

Answer 10

Sure and your catholic cohorts come out in droves to thumbs down anyone that corrects your twisted history.Catholics should learn their own doctrine and defend it as it written in your catechisms,not your own private views of what the papacy believes and teaches.Address the issues for once.The pope believes he is Jesus Christ on earth.Prove me wrong.