A reflection on the neccesity of the pope for unity

[InJesusItrust]

Just a short reflection I had that I would like to share:

Jesus Christ appointed Peter as head for a reason. If every bishop was equal, if there is a schism, people can choose which bishop to follow. On the other hand the pope cannot divide himself into two. Whichever church that he remains head of has to be the true Church. Only by following the successor of Peter can we be sure that we are in the infallible Church. The idea that God would allow confusion by not putting an indivisible man as head of the earthly church is strange therefore. God is not the author of confusion.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I have come to believe very strongly that the principle role of the Holy Father, as successor to Peter, is in fact to be the pillar of unity.

Yet, I do not think of it as you have suggested, in terms of the implications in a schism, but rather, as it relates the responsibility for and ongoing mission of ensuring unity and fostering reconciliation where we, in our human frailty, have failed to answer Christ’s prayer in that regard.

Viewed as the living and visible symbol of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Papacy has undeniable value, especially given the global stretch of Christianity in the modern world and the challenges that very modern world presents to maintaining the True Faith.

 

[louisak]

Yes, and it is for the same reason that each diocese is governed by a bishop, not by a council or committee.

I once read an article by then-cardinal Ratzinger in which he tied this issue to the words of Christ, “he who knows me, knows the Father who has sent me” or something to that effect. The Father sent Christ into the world, and Christ in turn chose men whom He sent out to act in His name. Only a person can act in the name of Christ and be the image of Christ, the image by which people come to know the Father. It cannot be a council or committee, it must be a person.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Yes, and it is for the same reason that each diocese is governed by a bishop, not by a council or committee.

It is never a council or committee (synod), but each bishop individually and collectively. This is true in the Apostolic Churches generally. What is different in Catholicism is that a single bishop (the Bishop of Rome) has universal jurisdiction, as well.

In Orthodoxy you have one Church because all bishops of the individual autonomous Churches stand together, in unity of faith.

In Catholicism, the same is true of the Magisterium, but the Pope can also speak for the Magisterium.

That said, all of this is a little bit of a sidetrack to the OP, unless tied back to the necessity of a Papacy for unity. While the Orthodox would argue that they enjoy unity of faith, there are undeniably some matters that cause dissention and discord (but not on matters of Faith, as would be argued). However, as seen most recently in Lebanon, one cannot deny the value of having a visible leader focused on unity of spirit and purpose at all times.