Wasn't it nice of Jesus to hire a pope to make sure you are doing it right?

Question

Or did the pope just butt in?

Answer 1

You are close.

Jesus created the role of Pope and selected Peter to fill that role.

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.

The Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.

The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.

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.

Answer 2

Actually, Jesus appointed St. Peter as the first Pope when He gave him the "keys to the Kingdom," i.e., the authority to govern the Church.
And yes, one of the jobs of the Pope is to make sure that the Church doesn't stray from God's will for His people.

That's why you see so many strange beliefs and heresies among those groups that split away from the Catholic church. They don't have a strong leader who teaches them godly doctrine and keeps them from falling into error.

Answer 3

There are two popes.

The successor to the Apostle Mark, is
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa.

The successor to the Apostle Peter, is Pope Benedict XVI, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church

So you have no excuse for not doing it right. Whatever it is.

Answer 4

The pope is inspired by Jesus, so yeah Id say it was nice of him to give us an earthly shepherd

Answer 5

your *question* contains extreme dishonesty and is meant to mock Catholics. The word *hire* necessarily involves payment for sevices. What was St Peter's pay, can you enlighten me on that. ? It also shows your total lack of understanding of Catholic faith... it is derisive, meant to hurt and arrogantly ignorant. No, the Pope did not "butt in". More schooling and less drooling is suggested for you.
Catholic bashing=last acceptable form of bigotry.

Answer 6

St Peter was the first pope, appointed by Christ himself. As catholics, we believe the pope to be the visual head of Christ on earth. (Leading question!)

Answer 7

Jesus picks the Pope because sometimes we have a hard time hear God..... I like the Pope hat

Answer 8

jesus didnt hire anyone...sometimes we need a human figure to guide us along the right way...thats the pope!

Answer 9

Hire? No Chose.
"Thou art Peter and on this rock wilt I build My Church..."
"I give you the keys to Heaven.."

LOL
Look at how badly we mess things up left with no guidance.

Answer 10

The pope is a button.