The Pope

[bexe]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

 

[SumTinWong]

The Catholics that i have met do not idolize the Pope. That is not saying that some do not, just stating that the ones I have met (quite a bit) do not. As far as the need for the pope I suppose I will leave that to a Catholic a I am not in a position of agreement and I am sure that one will lay out their idea of his role for you. By the way you seemed to have no problem standing in line three hours to visit the place where the Pope resides so where does that put you in the mix?

 

[mdSchultz]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

According to Catholics, he's the spiritual leader of the entire world. In that mind set, he would deserve the respect, attention and admiration he receives.

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

II just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church.

You don't have a pastors or bishops in your church?

The Pope is the Pastor of the Catholic Church.

 

[Veritas]

You don't have a pastors or bishops in your church?

The Pope is the Pastor of the Catholic Church.

Let's take this a step further. There are many Christians who "idolize" their pastors. I could tick off a long list of popular pastors today that many people spend a lot of money to buy their books, tapes, go on expensive cruises with them, etc.

There's nothing wrong with looking up to and respecting your church leaders, but it's not right to put them on a pedestal. A good leader wouldn't want to be there anyway.

 

[Veritas]

By the way you seemed to have no problem standing in line three hours to visit the place where the Pope resides so where does that put you in the mix?

 

[Benedicta00]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

You mistook honor for the pope’s apostolic office (he is ST. Peter’s successor) for idolizing.
Its okay everyone makes mistakes now and then.

 

[Benedicta00]

Let's take this a step further. There are many Christians who "idolize" their pastors. I could tick off a long list of popular pastors today that many people spend a lot of money to buy their books, tapes, go on expensive cruises with them, etc.

There's nothing wrong with looking up to and respecting your church leaders, but it's not right to put them on a pedestal. A good leader wouldn't want to be there anyway.

Billy Graham comes to mind. Binny Hinn also.

 

[SumTinWong]

Billy Graham comes to mind. Binny Hinn also.

While I agree with the first, Benny Hinn is in no way respected by the majority of Protestants. He does have a cult following however, and is very visable like Mr Graham. But putting the two in the same sentance is a pretty far stretch to say the least.

 

[Deb7777]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

Catholics believe in the office of St. Peter to lead the Church together with the Bishops of the world. His position is the go to guy in leading the flock to the kingdom of God. He oversees the other Bishops and make sures the ship stays on course to Christ. We love Erwin leading this site to its potential, we love many types of leaders in guiding countries, companies, what have you, most likely you will have an individual that stands out among the rest in leading an enterprise to its destination. We believe Christ in his wisdom has given the office of St. Peter to fulfill the task of leading the Church to the Kingdom of God and we believe Jesus is with his Church always in the power of the Holy Spirit to make sure the Office he has instituted for the good of the flock in the person of Peter will always be a rock of true doctrines and beliefs for his flock. What we believe today, mainstream Christianity believe in the very beginning of Christianity with its doctrines of the Eucharist, praying to the Saints, the belief of Mary's virginity and immaculate conception. So, the Church has not steered away from what those Christians passed down as mainstream Christianity. The Church did not pass down 16 century doctrines and beliefs that's why you have a condemnation from new Churches with there new doctrines and beliefs because of their enlighten scriptural reading that goes against what Christians believe and practised and passed down to every generation from the beginning of the Church. You can choose to go with doctrines that were with the Church from the beginning or go with doctrines and beliefs that developed later with self-appointed leaders speaking as new Peters to the new Churches. We follow the succession of Peter and his office as being the leader for us in guiding us to the kingdom. Every issue has been debated here from both sides so I am not going to debate peoples reason not to follow the office of St. Peter. I've heard all the arguements from the new Christianity and all the arguements for their new doctrines according to their scripture understanding and simply do not agree and will stay in the boat that has acknowledge the role of St. Peter and his successors given by Christ himself which I see quite clearly in scripture and in history and in plain common sense to have a go to guy to hold the whole together. Catholics have a speacial love for those who Christ has put in charge over us, thank you Lord for your Bishops and priests and for the Bishop of Rome who you yourself has commissioned with a special role of service to your Flock.

 

[Davidnic]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

I have a question since I think the one about the Pope is being answered. My answer on that is that we don't idolize him, we respect him and there are around 1.1 billion Catholics...so lines can get long if even a fraction of us show up.

But my question: When you say to get into the Vatican, do you mean for a papal mass or daily audience or just to go into the Vatican.

The size of the line and the visitors to the Vatican can be based on alot of things:

1.) There to see the art
2.) Tourists
3) Class trips
4) People just curious
5) There for the history and to study the dome of St. Peter's. As far as architecture goes that dome is almost impossible given the technology when it was done.
6) and also Catholic Pilgrims

I'm just curious if it was a line to specifically see the pope or if it the length could have been for many reasons and contained many non-Catholics. What made me think of that is depending on how recently he might not have even been there since he was just in Poland. Your question is valid either way, I was just curious.

 

[Jipsah]

Why do catholics idolise the pope?

It's that cool hat.

 

[a_ntv]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

Im catholic.
I try to life according the real teachings of our Mother Church. Belife to me: it is not easy!
I love the pope!!!

I personally think that most of the people that make hours of queque to see the pope want simply to show themself that they are very christians. That is not bad, but it is not enogh to be christian. It is simply a step in the faith.

Also protestants have the really equal habits. When every summer I came in US, I always attend some protestant services: on sunday all people is very well dressed, and anyone is very impeccable (in CC masses it is very different....). Why? to to show themself that they are very christians. That is not bad, but it is not enogh to be christians. It is simply a step in the faith.

So dont comdamn such habits: they are part of the human nature, and God takes something of good also from these habits !!!

 

[BBAS 64]

It's that cool hat.

ROTFLMHOOOO!

 

[hoser]

Why do catholics idolise the pope? I recently went to rome and qued for 3 hours to get into the vatican. I just dont understand the need for the Pope, except for the tradition of the church. Im not against the idea, i like tradition. Just wondering if there is more to it?

There is a need for the Pope because that is how Jesus set up His Church.

 

[hoser]

Im catholic.
I try to life according the real teachings of our Mother Church. Belife to me: it is not easy!
I love the pope!!!

I personally think that most of the people that make hours of queque to see the pope want simply to show themself that they are very christians. That is not bad, but it is not enogh to be christian. It is simply a step in the faith.

Also protestants have the really equal habits. When every summer I came in US, I always attend some protestant services: on sunday all people is very well dressed, and anyone is very impeccable (in CC masses it is very different....). Why? to to show themself that they are very christians. That is not bad, but it is not enogh to be christians. It is simply a step in the faith.

So dont comdamn such habits: they are part of the human nature, and God takes something of good also from these habits !!!

And on a smaller scale, I always try to go to a local Church when the Arch-Bishop is there doing Mass. It is just really neat (don't know if this is the right word or not but it's what I thought of). So if the Pope came to my town and did some sort of outdoor Mass, you'd bet your life that I would be there. It would be an awesome experience. And NO, not in any way do I worship or "idolize" the Pope.

 

[Tychicum]

He is no different than the rest of us ...

 

[lionroar0]

It's that cool hat.

OKay who let the cat out of the bag????

Peace

 

[freespiritchurch]

He is no different than the rest of us ...
Even my untrained eye can see the photoshopping on that hand. And that's not even the Pope; it's the former Pope.

 

[BrightCandle]

There is a need for the Pope because that is how Jesus set up His Church.

Was Jesus behind the Pope calling himself "Great" and taking a Pagan Roman title, Pontifex Maximus, and applying it to himself to exhalt himself over all other Christian leaders? I don't think so! (See article below)


In Ancient Rome, the Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the collegium of the Pontifices, the most august position in Roman religion, open only to a patrician, until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post. A distinctly religious office under the early Roman Republic, it gradually became politicized until, beginning with Augustus, it was subsumed into the Imperial office.
Today, Pontifex Maximus is one of the titles of the Bishop of Rome as Roman Catholic Pope. As a papal title, the English translation Supreme Pontiff is customary, reserving Pontifex Maximus for the former pagan Roman post.

At the end of the 6th century Gregory I was the first Pope to employ "Pontifex maximus" in a formal sense, in a broader program of asserting Roman primacy. It has remained one of the titles of the popes to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontifex_Maximus