C
ConstantineTG
Guest
Did the first few bishops of Rome think of themselves as successors to Peter’s authority?Right, but the Succession occured in Rome thus St Peters Chair, also this wasn’t an election process, as St Peter himself chose the first few successors. The exact reason St Peter and Paul wanted Mark in Alexandria, is vague which Paul didn’t elaborate on nor did Peter. However St Paul was strong in this conviction. So there are voids here which are not clearly documented.
You describe the Papacy as if it is a managerial position waiting to be filled by the next high achiever. Peter was not the smartest among the Apostles. He is also generally believed to be illiterate compared to the learned ones such as Matthew, who is a tax collector and thus literate.For example though, lets say all Christianity become even more persecuted in this area of the World. The geographical location can be re-located with the Apostolic Sees, yet for example as with Alexandria today, these Souls are not easy to give up a area they feel was paid for by the Blood of Martyrs, as we see elsewhere.
However, I think a point in Communion is all the Bishops should be able to succeed in other Apostolic Sees. For example lets say in Russia a very great theologian resides who’s acknowledged through all the churchs, and his upward movement is stagnant because the Chair their is filled. The Pope passed away. Now being these Sees [assuming] in communion, why wouldn’t this be possible in this situation is a great question. I’ve always throught about this. I don’t know, in the early centuries for example the Eastern Church really carried Rome till Constantine. Though they didn’t view it as an Us and Them senerio, but a united Church.
The Pope is the head of the Roman Church, therefore only a Roman bishop (technically, any canonically Roman man can be, but that is highly unlikely).
There were Popes of varied ethnic background in the past but that was before delineations were clear among the Churches. It still is highly unlikely today. Even if there are Eastern Catholic hierarchs who are Cardinals, they are unlikely to be elected for the simple reason that they are not Roman Catholic clergy. Why would, for example His Beatitude Sviatoslav, be elected Pope? Do you think he would be able to handle the SSPX issue? He probably hasn’t been to a Latin Mass in his entire life, I mean, why would he? He belongs to a different sui juris Church that celebrates a different Rite.Why didn’t what happen in the past IMHO bro is a kinda void which we don’t have much info on. I believe many factors came into play such as culture, mass comminication being non-existing. Yet today when this occurs, which may be centuries away, its much more likely now.
Good question, I don’t know, perhaps someone else has more insight here.
Happy 4th CTG