2007-11-01 17:33:56 · 8 answers · asked by lexis♥ 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Kind of the same thing that a senior pastor does at a church.
The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.
The Pope is the senior pastor of over 1.1 billion Catholics all over the world, the direct successor of Simon Peter.
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.
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.
2007-11-04 16:42:26 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only one Pope in existence at any one time. This person has been selected to be the head or the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope, according to Catholic belief, speaks with out error when addressing matters of the Catholic Faith. There's probably a more technical way to say it, but that's the jist what Catholics believe and why the Pope is so revered by them.
The Pope is the most powerful figure in the Catholic Church and historically has wielded significant political power as well.
The Pope presides over the Catholic Church from the Vatican, which is in the Vatican City. The Vatican City is a small city state (self governing) that is located near near Rome Italy.
2007-11-02 00:44:41 · answer #2 · answered by Diane D. 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He is the head of the Catholic church. That denomination is very structured and Catholic people depend on the priests, bishops, etc all the way up to the pope to intercede for them in prayer, to bless them, and to explain to them what the Bible means instead of reading it for themselves.
It doesn't matter to anyone who isn't Catholic, including God.
Christ is the head of the Church--the body of true believers who are considered the elect, the Bride of Christ.
2007-11-02 00:38:38 · answer #3 · answered by arklatexrat 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They promote superstition. It matters because it leads to bigotry and atrocities; both the Crusades & the Inquisition were the result of a pope's actions.
2007-11-02 00:44:09 · answer #4 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Popes pontificate.
It really doesn't matter to me.
2007-11-02 00:44:28 · answer #5 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They are the leader of the Catholic Church....and to Catholics' it matters a lot.
2007-11-02 00:36:09 · answer #6 · answered by wildeyes_heart_of_stone 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
this article should give you an outlook of some kind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Papacy
i hope it gives you what you require.
2007-11-02 00:38:36 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They run the largest and richest organization in the world.
2007-11-02 00:36:54 · answer #8 · answered by DMG 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋