Papal apologetics

[ps139]

Yes, but what I have heard is that he went many other places (Antioch is the only name I remember) and created other lines of bishops. So, I'm asking what made the Roman one the best line of Peter? This is an Orthodox argument against the sole leadership of the Roman patriarch.
-Catherine

It seems that the answer is embedded in your question. If Peter went other places and created other lines of bishops, he must have had the authority to do so. He established the church in Rome and remained there as its leader until he was martyred. So, the one with this authority resides in Rome. Also, its not as if there was the leadership was "up for grabs" when Peter died. It stayed with his successors. Pope Clement was one of the earliest popes (1st century AD) and we can already see his authority in the early records. The Early Church Fathers attest to this authority. Irenaeus (Against Heresies -180 AD) states that all churches must be in agreement with the church of Rome and conform to it.

Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say, ] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority, that is, the faithful everywhere, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those [faithful men] who exist everywhere.

Augustine (Against the Pelagians - 420 AD) quotes a letter from Pope Innocent I, and makes the statement "Rome's reply has come, the matter is closed." Peter Chrysolsogus, in The Epistle to Eutyches (449 AD) urges Eutyches to be obedient to the Bishop of Rome, because he provides the truth to those who seek it, and no one else can make decisions on matters pertaining to the Faith without his consent.

 

[nyj]

So, I'm asking what made the Roman one the best line of Peter? This is an Orthodox argument against the sole leadership of the Roman patriarch.

It's not if the Bishop of Rome is "better" than the Bishop of any other Bishopric. Rather, the Bishop of Rome has always been considered "First Amongst Equals". This is something that history attests to and which even the Orthodox must admit.

 

[Amandine]

Oh, okay. Thanks.
-Catherine

 

[Michelina]

To follow up on ps139's point:

Peter was the Bishop of Rome when he died. The other 'church' he founded had another Bishop by then, because Peter was led by God to Rome, where Christians were to be found before he or Paul, who was there before him, ever got there. When Paul got there, he was regarded by the Xians there as their leader...until Peter got there. Peter's primacy in the universal church was immediately recognized.