Did the Popes really claim to be God on earth?

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genebro

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I’ve read an article (maybe a non-Catholic one) that says Popes claim to be God on earth, and even saying that Papal infallibility is non-biblical. is it true?
 
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The only thing I can think of that can even be misconstrued as this is the Pope’s title “Vicar of Christ”. It is not assuming Christ’s identity, but rather acknowledging the authority which Christ passed on to Peter and, through Peter, to the following Popes.
 
no, not in the catechism there’s a non-catholic post that was posted in the social media quoting Pope Pius XI claimed something like “I am the Vicar of God, therefore I am God on earth” (I don’t remember the exact quote)
 
there’s a post in social media with a caption “False Prophet” then attached is the photo of Pope Pius XI claiming something like “I am the vicar of God, therefore I am God on earth”. it disturbed me…
 
The real question is why you are reading anti-Catholic agit-prop, and giving it credence?
 
I just saw it on social media, I know my belief as a Catholic, what i worry is its effect to other Catholics that are not deeply rooted in faith. I just want to know the real statements of the popes so I can address it to those kind of posts in social media.
 
I ignore shite like that. It’s a dime a dozen. Anyone can put anything up
 
It had to be a non-Catholic article. There is no scriptural support or Church teaching for such a claim.
 
They are simply wrong, ignorant or bigoted. Rather, read edifying Catholic articles, as the world hates the Catholic Church just as it hates Christ.

This also applies to so-called “Christians” - being an attempt to justify their separation from Christ’s Church.
 
It floors me that anyone would even think, let alone publicly post, such a question.
 
The Vicar of Christ (which is the same as the Vicar of God) is very biblical. Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven”. In the past, a Vicar of a king was someone who had the complete authority of the king in the king’s absence. A vicar was always given a “key to the kingdom” which signified this authority. So when Jesus said to Peter he would give him the key, everyone at the time would have recognized this as Jesus making Peter his Vicar who would have his authority when Jesus left.
 
OldCAFMember said:
It floors me that anyone would even think, let alone publicly post, such a question.
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Quite. I mean, why search for clarification on things one has heard? :roll_eyes: 😉

Generally speaking, these claims proceed from quote-mining and deliberately (or in ignorance) disregarding context. In the past, there was a real power struggle between popes and kings/emperors. The statements of the popes – construed today to mean “I’m God Himself” – were, in actuality, really just claims that kings had no power over popes.

With respect to infallibility, I think we need look no further than the words of Jesus to Peter: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

If the pope has the authority to make declarations on faith and morals that are, by definition, accepted by God, then how is that distinct from “infallibility”?
 
Gorgias said:
were, in actuality, really just claims that kings had no power over popes.
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I would add that this happened before the era of democratic governments, before separation of Church and State.
 
Please post this article, or it was like whats blowing up now, fake news from the Russians hackers.
 
And yet there are plenty of people out there convinced that this is in fact what the Pope(s) believe about themselves - & the Church as well.

I’ve encountered some of this myself online…
 
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