Does the pope have supernatural powers?

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KingJohn said:
I’m sure you’ve heard of Padre Pio. He had many abilities, I would like to ask, does the Pope have any of them? It was reported Padre could levitate…Could the Pope do that? And this is a serious question.
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Oh I finally get what you are asking? :newidea:

As far as I am aware, the current Pope does not possess the charisms of bilocation and he has not levitated. He hasn’t raised anyone from the dead as Padre Pio has either.

There are charisms that a Saint has which a Popes haven’t. There is no requirement for a Pope to be able to do so as we don’t claim his position to be linked to the power to perform miracles. Only those powers absolutely necessary for the preservation of the Church have been given to the popes.
 
KingJohn said:
I do not believe I have not made it clearer. Can the Pope, like Priests, HEAL wounds?
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Unless life suddenly becomes a fantasy role-playing game. I would say no.
KingJohn said:
Can the Pope, like Priests, CAST OUT demons?
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Do you mean this in the spiritual sense (Rite of Exorcism, consultation with a local bishop etc) or in a more literal sense (priest waves crucifix at victim and giant, devil boss monster comes out)?

If it’s the former then yes. If it’s the latter, refer to my previous answer.
 
A Pope can infuse a person with supernatural Grace through Christian Baptism. But that’s also something that you (or I or anybody else) can do.

Everyone has supernatural powers.
 
I think that the Pope has the same supernatural powers of any priest, as granted to him through Christ our Lord, who acts through him - he can act in the person of Christ to effectively forgive sins, even those that were committed against a third party, and can turn bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ.

Whoa. Next to that, flying and x-ray vision isn’t much.

The Pope has an additional super-power, which is kind of a negative super-power - he can’t be mistaken when speaking ex cathedra.
 
KingJohn said:
Example: Can he cast out demons? Can he bless? Can he heal?
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Healing may occur through grace, such as in the Holy Mystery of Anointing of the Sick. Priests certainly may bless. There is a rite of exorcism.

Modern Catholic Dictionary has that “Grace is the supernatural gift that God, of his free benevolence, bestows on rational creatures for their eternal salvation. The gifts of grace are essentially supernatural. They surpass the being, powers, and claims of created nature, namely sanctifying grace, the infused virtues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and actual grace.”

Sanctifying Grace - … sanctifying grace belongs to the whole soul, mind, will, and affections. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

**Infused Virtue - **A good habit of the mind or will given to the soul by God, and not acquired by the action of a human being. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are always infused; the moral virtues are both acquired and infused.

**Moral Virtue **- A good habit of the will whose immediate object is one of the means by which our final destiny is attained.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit - The seven forms of supernatural initiative conferred with the reception of sanctifying grace. … The gifts are wisdom (sapientia), understanding (intellectus), knowledge (scientia), fortitude or courage (fortitudo), counsel (consilium), piety or love (pietas), and fear of the Lord (timor Domini).

Actual Grace - Temporary supernatural intervention by God to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven. Actual grace is therefore a transient divine assistance to enable man to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

Rite of Exorcism - A sacramental by which a duly appointed person, generally a priest, is authorized to use the special power he receives to drive out the evil spirit. … Private exorcism, which is the private adjuring of the devil from harming someone, may be performed by any priest, and also by a lay person; for example, by the use of sacramentals such as holy water or by invoking the name of Jesus.
 
KingJohn said:
I’m sure you’ve heard of Padre Pio. He had many abilities, I would like to ask, does the Pope have any of them? It was reported Padre could levitate…Could the Pope do that? And this is a serious question.
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None that I’m aware of. Generally, priests don’t advertise their gifts (if they have any) to the public. I know a priest who has the gift of healing and he is well-known but he avoids the spotlight as much as possible. The Holy Father has a lot of things to deal with at his age and having those sort of gifts could be even more of a burden considering the type of work he does on a day-to-day basis.

He is a brilliant theologian. That sort of talent should be enough for him.
 
I remember Pope John Paul II actually did an exorcism right in The cathedral square. Most never knew what happened.

God does not give the same gifts to all. Nor does the manifestation of these gifts make any particular priest Gods choice for the next pope necessarily.
 
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