Why should I believe in the Pope?

[Not David]

*Friendly post*
Howdy! Can I hear any arguments that answer the question? I will try just to read them because answering might get into a discussion I don't want.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Michie]

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Believe in the pope how? There are many in the Church that disagree with the pope on a fallible level while still giving due respect to the office. He is still a fallible man regardless of his calling. Look at Peter.

 

[Rhamiel]

You are a catechumen?
In the Catholic Church?
In Eastern Orthodoxy?

What background are you coming from?

St Clement of Rome instructed the Eastern Churches very authoritatively in the Epistle of Clement

This was a time when John was still alive in exile on Patmos
So administratively, the Bishop of Rome outranked the last living Apostle

Really deep stuff if you think about it

 

[Not David]

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Believe in the pope how? There are many in the Church that disagree with the pope on a fallible level while still giving due respect to the office. He is still a fallible man regardless of his calling. Look at Peter.

The way the Catholic Church teaches on the Pope.

 

[Not David]

You are a catechumen?
In the Catholic Church?
In Eastern Orthodoxy?

What background are you coming from?

St Clement of Rome instructed the Eastern Churches very authoritatively in the Epistle of Clement

This was a time when John was still alive in exile on Patmos
So administratively, the Bishop of Rome outranked the last living Apostle

Really deep stuff if you think about it

I used to be Evangelical and I am currently an Orthodox catechumen but I am interested in hearing Catholic arguments.

 

[Rhamiel]

“The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ he says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’ . . . On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?” -Saint Cyprian of Carthage, “The Unity of the Catholic Church” 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251].

“We exhort you in every respect, honorable brother, to heed obediently what has been written by the most blessed pope of the city of Rome, for blessed Peter, who lives and presides in his own see, provides the truth of faith to those who seek it. For we, by reason of our pursuit of peace and faith, cannot try cases on the faith without the consent of the bishop of Rome” -Saint Peter Chrysologus, Father and Doctor of the Church(Letters 25:2 [A.D. 449]).

 

[Michie]

Spot on.

The way the Catholic Church teaches on the Pope.

.

 

[Basil the Great]

I am not Catholic or Orthodox and I never thought that I would ever think more highly of a Pope than Pope John Paul II..... until Pope Francis came along. All I can say is that in my view, Pope Francis' change in the catechism's teaching on the death penalty would appear more consistently teach the value of every human life. I take no stand as to Catholic vs. Eastern Orthodox debate, though I slightly lean toward EO. However, I do think the world of Pope Francis, due to his emphasis upon helping the poor and oppressed and his stance against capital punishment.

 

[charsan]

*Friendly post*
Howdy! Can I hear any arguments that answer the question? I will try just to read them because answering might get into a discussion I don't want.

Thanks for your time!

I believe in the Pope, I believe in a lot of things. He is there and such, now I do not like what the Pope is currently doing at all and it has driven me from the Church what with all the scandals and such plus the going away from what the Church always was to something else is sad and I had to leave.

 

[Not David]

Well, whether I like what a specific Pope is a different topic. I don't like what some Orthodox Patriarchs do.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Regardless of who the Pope is, the office of the Papacy is generally a unifying role in the Church. We can look at the varied people and groups under the umbrella of the Catholic Church and recognize our unity firstly in our worship of Christ, and also in our submission to the Church and Pope of Rome. Whether it's the Latin Rite, the Maronite Catholics or the Anglican Ordinariate, we have a common thread that binds us.

That's one massive benefit to Christ appointing Peter the first Pope and the rock upon which he built the Church.

 

[Not David]

Regardless of who the Pope is, the office of the Papacy is generally a unifying role in the Church. We can look at the varied people and groups under the umbrella of the Catholic Church and recognize our unity firstly in our worship of Christ, and also in our submission to the Church and Pope of Rome. Whether it's the Latin Rite, the Maronite Catholics or the Anglican Ordinariate, we have a common thread that binds us.

That's one massive benefit to Christ appointing Peter the first Pope and the rock upon which he built the Church.

While I don't agree that the Pope provides a good role in unifying, I can see the reasoning behind that.

Thank for your answer Fenwick!

 

[charsan]

Well, whether I like what a specific Pope is a different topic. I don't like what some Orthodox Patriarchs do.

True but as Michie said your title is quite vague. I believe in the Pope because he is there, I believe in many things like I believe in you because your there. The better question would be maybe "Why should I believe the Pope is (insert something here)"

 

[Not David]

True but as Michie said your title is quite vague. I believe in the Pope because he is there, I believe in many things like I believe in you because your there. The better question would be maybe "Why should I believe the Pope is (insert something here)"

It sounded cooler in my mind.

 

[ripple the car]

*Friendly post*
Howdy! Can I hear any arguments that answer the question? I will try just to read them because answering might get into a discussion I don't want.

Thanks for your time!

Hey, David. That's a good question. For me, it boils down to this;

"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it."

Matthew 16:18

And

When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

John 21:15

It does seem to me, based on Scripture, that Christ left Peter uniquely in charge, and built the Church on him. It also makes sense to me, to have a single, visible head over the Church, just as Christ was the single, visible Head of the Church while on earth.

This does not mean that every Pope will be good, holy, wise, or perfect. But Christ has promised to protect His Church, preserve it, guide it, and be with Her until the end, even if things get very, very difficult.

 

[Not David]

Hey, David. That's a good question. For me, it boils down to this;

"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it."

Matthew 16:18

And

When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

John 21:15

It does seem to me, based on Scripture, that Christ left Peter uniquely in charge, and built the Church on him. It also makes sense to me, to have a single, visible head over the Church, just as Christ was the single, visible Head of the Church while on earth.

This does not mean that every Pope will be good, holy, wise, or perfect. But Christ has promised to protect His Church, preserve it, guide it, and be with Her until the end, even if things get very, very difficult.

Thanks for your answer Gracia.

 

[Michie]

Well I'm glad we got that all cleared up.