Did any Saints write about the Papacy?

[Thomas_Francis]

Did any Saints write about the Papacy? Like how it was understood. Pre-1300’s would be preferable. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mintaka]

You don’t say whether you mean theology, history, fashion, or what, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to help you.

Well, obviously a lot of pope saints wrote about the papacy, that being of interest to them. St. Gregory the Great was a pope, a saint, and a man who somehow managed his copious spare time enough to write tons of books.

I don’t really know who else to tell you… I’m not a real big papacy-knowledge person.

Fr. Livius’ old compilation book, S. Peter the Bishop of Rome, or, The Roman Episcopate, has a lot of excerpts about the papacy from all sorts of different early sources. That might start you out on places to look.

 

[Thomas_Francis]

I’m looking for theology, the fact that it’s written by a Saint (Pre-1300’s) will cover the history aspect. I’m curious to see what the Saints have to say about the authority, specifically, of the Pontiff. Does he hold authority over the Bishop’s or merely primacy? Maybe some historical acts that show the authority of the Papacy, hopefully pre-1300’s.

 

[Warloff]

Saint Pope Leo the Great, a doctor of the Church, during the 5th century wrote quite a bit about the power of the papacy.

The second oldest non-canonical Christian document is Saint Pope Clement’s letter to the Corinthians written at the end of the 1st century. Although he doesn’t talk much about papal authority it is significant that he is writing from a position of authority to a Church in Greece and is interfering in a dispute there. In fact, he apologizes for not doing so sooner!

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons at the end of the second century also wrote on the great importance of communion with the bishop of Rome. He wrote:

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 preeminent authority, that is, the faithful everywhere, inasmuch as the tradition has been preserved continuously by those [faithful men] who exist everywhere. **

The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric. This man, as he had seen the blessed apostles, and had been conversant with them, might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing [in his ears], and their traditions before his eyes. Nor was he alone [in this], for there were many still remaining who had received instructions from the apostles. In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the apostles, proclaiming the one God, omnipotent, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of man, who brought on the deluge, and called Abraham, who led the people from the land of Egypt, spoke with Moses, set forth the law, sent the prophets, and who has prepared fire for the devil and his angels. From this document, whosoever chooses to do so, may learn that He, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was preached by the Churches, and may also understand the tradition of the Church, since this Epistle is of older date than these men who are now propagating falsehood, and who conjure into existence another god beyond the Creator and the Maker of all existing things. To this Clement there succeeded Evaristus. Alexander followed Evaristus; then, sixth from the apostles, Sixtus was appointed; after him, Telephorus, who was gloriously martyred; then Hyginus; after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Soter having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate. In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us. And this is most abundant proof that there is one and the same vivifying faith, which has been preserved in the Church from the apostles until now, and handed down in truth.

 

[Warloff]

Oh, and Saint Irenaeus was personally trained in the faith by Saint Polycarp who was personally trained in the faith by Saint John the Apostle who was personally trained in the faith by Christ.

 

[Jacob50]

Many saints wrote about papacy.

You can either click the link under my signature, and/or go here:
catholic.com/tracts/browse/Papacy