Our view on THE POPE?

Question

I have read some ridiculous posts about the pope today, and I wish to clarify what Catholics think about the pope.

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: http://www.catholic.com/library/church_papacy.asp

Oh: We do not worship Mary, or the Saints: Statues are not idols, and ALL Catholic teachings ARE BIBLICAL !!

JP: Aquinas' proofs are not invalidated by some pointy-headed atheist

Answer 1

Pastor Billy says: let's have some fun, in my crusading fashion crusader when a non-Catholic questions the authority of a hierarchical Church with the pope as it's physical temporal head I cry out

"GOD WILLS IT!"

Regarding the bible and is it or isn't it in it Cardinal Newman put it this way in an essay on inspiration first published in 1884: "Surely then, if the revelations and lessons in Scripture are addressed to us personally and practically, the presence among us of a formal judge and standing expositor of its words is imperative. It is antecedently unreasonable to suppose that a book so complex, so unsystematic, in parts so obscure, the outcome of so many minds, times, and places, should be given us from above without the safeguard of some authority; as if it could possibly from the nature of the case, interpret itself.Its inspiration does but guarantee its truth, not its interpretation. How are private readers satisfactorily to distinguish what is didactic and what is historical, what is fact and what is vision, what is allegorical and what is literal, what is [idiomatic] and what is grammatical, what is enunciated formally and what occurs defter, what is only of temporary and what is of lasting obligations. Such is our natural anticipation, and it is only too exactly justified in the events of the last three centuries, in the many countries where private judgment on the text of Scripture has prevailed. The gift of inspiration requires as its complement the gift of infallibility."

Answer 2

Anthony B said:
VICARIUS FILII DEI - It is the title of the Pope... It was a counterfeit document called the Donation of Constantine, appearing two centuries after Constantine The Great, and bearing his forged signature, that suggested the name VICARIUS FILII DEI and strengthened the heresy of the succession of popes from the throne (Sic.) of the apostle Peter.

I reply:
It SUGGESTED the name - by your own admission. But not only that, the title VICARIUS FILII DEI is not a title of the pope and never has been. One of his titles, in fact his chief title, is Vicarius Christi (Vicar of Christ).

Try to confirm the information you find to be accurate through solid Catholic sources. This just shows your ignorance of the Catholic Church and your unwillingness to verify the validity of your information.

God Bless
Robin

Answer 3

Thanks for that description. I find that helpful in understanding the position of pope. Can you help me understand the catholic practice of confessing your sins to a priest when the Bible teaches in Hebrews 4:14 - 16 and 5:10 that Jesus Christ is our high priest and functions as our redeemer and intercedes to the Father on our behalf. See I John 2:1. The Bible teaches that all born again believers have direct access to the throne of God through prayer and we are instructed to confess our sins directly to God. The Bible actually calls born again believers -- Priests and Saints. Does the catholic church denounce the priesthood of the believer?

Answer 4

Although I'm not a Roman Catholic, I consider the Pope to be an excellent Christian. This goes for the last Pope as well.
They are excellent Christians.
I Cr 13;8a
Ps 122;6

Answer 5

Compared to Pope John Paul, this Pope is a disappointment.

Answer 6

Here's a simple test of whether or not what the Catholic Church says is true. The Bible says, in many scriptures, that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ shall (not may) be saved. The Catholic Church says that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church. Jesus says "I know who my sheep are. No one can snatch them from my hand". The Catholic Church says that it has the power to excommunicate people, thereby revoking their salvation. I think I would prefer to believe the inerrant Word of God.

Answer 7

I applaud your diligence even though it will fall on deaf ears.

The Pope is a problem for many non-Catholics. But it is their misunderstanding of him as a person and of his office that they ultimately have a problem with. They THINK they know what we believe about the Pope...and they don't.

I love all the "there is no Pope in the Bible" and "Peter was never called Pope" statements. Ugh...very trying isn't it?

Keep up the good work.

Answer 8

(((CC))) - I respect what your saying and I understand fully, but if I had a choice I would've love to have met Peter, I would've loved to have been there on that mount when the sermon was given. What i would give. The Pope, not so much. =)

Answer 9

VICARIUS FILII DEI - It is the title of the Pope. It means: 'In the place of the Son of God. So, VICARIUS FILII DEI, originally published in Latin, literally means: In the place of the Son of God. This title was first bestowed upon the Pope in the eighth century when he received the so-called "Vicar of Christ" title by the Roman System. It was a counterfeit document called the Donation of Constantine, appearing two centuries after Constantine The Great, and bearing his forged signature, that suggested the name VICARIUS FILII DEI and strengthened the heresy of the succession of popes from the throne (Sic.) of the apostle Peter.

Answer 10

Why are you trying to overturn the rumor stones? Catholicism is what you want it to be. Not what the general public make it out to be.