Exactly What is the Authority of the Pope?

[d0c markus]

What exactly is the authority of the pope, the realm of his control, what he does on a daily basis stuff like that...

Thanks

 

[pax]

The Pope is Bishop of the Diocese of Rome. St. Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the Pope is his successor. He is head of the Catholic Church and is responsible for the appointment of bishops and defending the deposit of faith. He meets with pilgrims, says masses, spends a lot of time writing, clears us doctrinal notes, and has numerous other responsibilities.

 

[d0c markus]

who picks the pope?

 

[Palatka44]

who picks the pope?

The College of Cardinals?

 

[d0c markus]

can he get fired?

 

[pmarquette]

What exactly is the authority of the pope, the realm of his control, what he does on a daily basis stuff like that... the head guy in the roman catholic church, who oversees the cardinals , who oversee the bishops , who oversee the monsignors , who oversee the priests , who oversee the flock [ as with the rulers of the congregation and the levitical priesthood in the old covenant ]

 

[n2wolves]

The Pope is Bishop of the Diocese of Rome. St. Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the Pope is his successor. He is head of the Catholic Church and is responsible for the appointment of bishops and defending the deposit of faith. He meets with pilgrims, says masses, spends a lot of time writing, clears us doctrinal notes, and has numerous other responsibilities.

Shouldn't Christ be the head of the Church?

 

[WOGminister]

Out of respect for those in the Catholic church I will say that that is who they chose to be the leader of their church in this realm. Being a Catholic all my life (now christian non denominational) I can say that to the Catholics the pope is the closes that you can come to actually hanging out with Christ physically in this world. He is supposedly a direct blood line decendent of one of the apostles.

I have nothing wrong with a earthly church leader. I believe that he might even be worthy of much respect BUT I do not condone any one person being exalted over all the other people on earth except for Christ. My whole family is cathoilc and I do understand how sensitive this question and issue is so not to disrespect anyone in this forum I will keep my person comments on the faith to myself.

I can therefore only say that to the Catholics he is very dera to them and that they take love for him over and above even our president. He is a religious icon, and has been for the last 25 years.

If you need to learn more about the Catholic faith or who the pope is you can read a book called The Catchesim - it explains all their beliefs and what the popes role is etc.

Me personally , I believe he is just another man - only he never experienced the joy of fatherhood, or children, or all the wonderful things that God intended us to experience to build a testamony. I believe that he was deprived a normal life because he was sheltered behind the vatican walls and now that it is near his time to die, they will just elect someone else to do the same thing...Its sad... Again this is only a personal opinion NOT an insult or attack to anybody elses belief!

 

[MattMMMan17]

He is supposedly a direct blood line decendent of one of the apostles.

I have nothing wrong with a earthly church leader. I believe that he might even be worthy of much respect BUT I do not condone any one person being exalted over all the other people on earth except for Christ.
I can therefore only say that to the Catholics he is very dera to them and that they take love for him over and above even our president. He is a religious icon, and has been for the last 25 years.

I have no qualm with previous posts, for the most part, but the Pope is not a direct blood line descendent of one of the apostles.

The Pope is not to be exalted. He should be revered however, as the successor of Peter. How individual Catholics view the Pope has absolutely nothing to do with the official Catholic teaching on the Papacy. It isn't illogical to place him "above" the president of a single earthly country that has been in existence for not 3 centuries. He is the 263 Pope in the history of the Church that has stood for near 2,000 years.

I won't get into the justification for celibacy of Roman Catholic priests because I don't want to divert this thread from the topic the OP intended.

 

[d0c markus]

Isnt it customary to kneel down before him, and kiss his hand? Something that Mordecai refused to do to Haman in the book of esther because he isnt supposed to kneel before anyone but God?

 

[Palatka44]

Isnt it customary to kneel down before him, and kiss his hand? Something that Mordecai refused to do to Haman in the book of esther because he isnt supposed to kneel before anyone but God?

Careful now don't go there. I've been there and it wasn't pretty. But like you it begs the question, What's up with that? Aren't people kissing a ring not somuch his hand? And what's with the ring anyway? I understand that the Pope gave rings to his Cardinals. "One ring to rule them all and in the darkness bind them"?

 

[Philip]

Isnt it customary to kneel down before him, and kiss his hand? Something that Mordecai refused to do to Haman in the book of esther because he isnt supposed to kneel before anyone but God?

It is customary to show respect.

Could you please point to the Scripture that states that we should only kneel before God?

 

[WOGminister]

Could you please point to the Scripture that states that we should only kneel before God?

It is not innapropriate to show people respect in that manner-that is a matter of custom and irrelevant to salvation.

It is customary to show respect.

What the real question here is , is, what are you showing him respect for? Why does he have so much respect? WHat did he do so great for people to flock to him as they did Christ? I dont understand that????

 

[d0c markus]

i think a handshake would suffice. Like i said the example in Esther mordicai refused to bow down and show respect to Haman, because of God.

 

[MattMMMan17]

The man is a shepherd of over 1,100,000,000 sheep; a Holy Catholic Priest for 55 years; Speaks 8 languages fluently; Has visited over 123 countries; Canonized 462 Saints; Consecrated Russia to Mary; Is a defender of the unborn; 264th Successor of Peter; Survived an assassination attempt; Written 13 encyclicals; Has been Pope for 1/4 century. I say give the man some props. Worship him? Never. Respect for a leader in the faith? absolutely. Things get a little bit muddled when individual Catholics begin to place him on a pedestal that equates him with Christ. This is not a problem with the Catholic Church, but a problem with the laity's misconception of it, combined with a lack of humility(in my personal opinion) of some Church leaders. Note I am NOT denouncing the Church, but several of the undesirable qualities of the men within it.

To clear up any misunderstanding on the Catholic teaching that Jesus is the head of the Church, I would suggest you read Lumen Gentium, which is Vatican II' dogmatic constitution on the Church

 

[d0c markus]

The man is a shepherd of over 1,100,000,000 sheep; a Holy Catholic Priest for 55 years; Speaks 8 languages fluently; Has visited over 123 countries; Canonized 462 Saints; Consecrated Russia to Mary; Is a defender of the unborn; 264th Successor of Peter; Survived an assassination attempt; Written 13 encyclicals; Has been Pope for 1/4 century. I say give the man some props. Worship him? Never. Respect for a leader in the faith? absolutely. Things get a little bit muddled when individual Catholics begin to place him on a pedestal that equates him with Christ. This is not a problem with the Catholic Church, but a problem with the laity's misconception of it, combined with a lack of humility(in my personal opinion) of some Church leaders. Note I am NOT denouncing the Church, but several of the undesirable qualities of the men within it.

To clear up any misunderstanding on the Catholic teaching that Jesus is the head of the Church, I would suggest you read Lumen Gentium, which is Vatican II' dogmatic constitution on the Church

The pope also teaches you can be saved outside of Jesus Christ.

Jesus died on the cross for me. Thank you lord. To you alone i will kneel.

 

[Philip]

It is not innapropriate to show people respect in that manner-that is a matter of custom and irrelevant to salvation.

How is it inappropriate? Are we not to give honor to who honor is due?

What the real question here is , is, what are you showing him respect for?

Because he is a man of God?

Why does he have so much respect? WHat did he do so great for people to flock to him as they did Christ? I dont understand that????

Are you suggesting that Catholics do not honor Christ?

 

[Philip]

i think a handshake would suffice.

Are you admitting it is a matter of taste and not Scripture?

Like i said the example in Esther mordicai refused to bow down and show respect to Haman, because of God.

I can't find in my copy of Esther a mention of Haman refusal to be out of respect for God. Could you please point me to the correct verse?

 

[Philip]

The pope also teaches you can be saved outside of Jesus Christ.

It is likely that you have misinterpreted what was said.

 

[d0c markus]

It is likely that you have misinterpreted what was said.

Nope.


Buddhism is a religion of salvation.
CH:84-85, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, by John Paul II, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1994

and:

One can be saved outside the Church by a moral life.
VS:3, 08/06/1993 Veritatis Splendor, Encyclical of John Paul II, Aug. 1993, Pauline Books

As for the qoute in esther, i believe its chapter 3 first part, I'm in class right now so I don't got a bible handy.