Is the Pope chosen by god?

[godsent]

Maybe a bit of an obvious question…

Now i know that the Holy Spirit through the divine assistance may guide the choices of the Cardinals at the time of the election, but is it fair to say that every Pope, including Pope Benedict XVI has been actually chosen by god to lead the universal church?

The reason i ask this is because ive been challenged by people stating that our Holy Father is just a man,elected by men,which is technically true but ive always held that the Pope has been actually hand picked to be the Vicar of Christ here on earth…?

 

[davidv]

Maybe a bit of an obvious question…

Now i know that the Holy Spirit through the divine assistance may guide the choices of the Cardinals at the time of the election, but is it fair to say that every Pope, including Pope Benedict XVI has been actually chosen by god to lead the universal church?

The reason i ask this is because ive been challenged by people stating that our Holy Father is just a man,elected by men,which is technically true but ive always held that the Pope has been actually hand picked to be the Vicar of Christ here on earth…?

If the Pope was hand picked by God, all votes by the cardinals would be unanimous.
All votes are not unanimous, nor conclusive,
Therefore the Pope is not hand picked by God.

 

[godsent]

If the Pope was hand picked by God, all votes by the cardinals would be unanimous.
All votes are not unanimous, nor conclusive,
Therefore the Pope is not hand picked by God.

My thoughts exactly, but the Pope has been chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit through divine assistance…do you agree?

 

[davidv]

My thoughts exactly, but the Pope has been chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit through divine assistance…do you agree?

I agree, at least to the extent the cardinals allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

[TMC]

Pope Benedict was asked this question (I don’t recall whether it was before or after he became Pope). His answer? “No.” He explained that we can be sure Pope’s are not selected by God (or at least not all selected by God) because it is obvious from the history of the Church that there have been a number of Popes that no one could rationally believe would have been God’s choice to lead His Church.

 

[ab75]

Maybe a bit of an obvious question…

Now i know that the Holy Spirit through the divine assistance may guide the choices of the Cardinals at the time of the election, but is it fair to say that every Pope, including Pope Benedict XVI has been actually chosen by god to lead the universal church?

The reason i ask this is because ive been challenged by people stating that our Holy Father is just a man,elected by men,which is technically true but ive always held that the Pope has been actually hand picked to be the Vicar of Christ here on earth…?

I know this is off topic, but I always chuckle that the apostles chose the 12th apostle (after Judas), by drawing Lot’s, essentially flipping a coin. I wonder if that’s how they should select the Popes?

 

[ab75]

Pope Benedict was asked this question (I don’t recall whether it was before or after he became Pope). His answer? “No.” He explained that we can be sure Pope’s are not selected by God (or at least not all selected by God) because it is obvious from the history of the Church that there have been a number of Popes that no one could rationally believe would have been God’s choice to lead His Church.

This would have to be my thinking as well, but doesn’t it go against the idea of “callings” so to speak?

 

[SonCatcher]

Pope Benedict was asked this question (I don’t recall whether it was before or after he became Pope). His answer? “No.” He explained that we can be sure Pope’s are not selected by God (or at least not all selected by God) because it is obvious from the history of the Church that there have been a number of Popes that no one could rationally believe would have been God’s choice to lead His Church.

It’s hard for us to see, as God’s ways are not ours. Remember Job’s lesson. God in his sovereignty permits much that we don’t understand. That doesn’t mean God wills bad popes (as He didn’t will Job’s suffering). He does allow them within His plan.

 

[Brannock]

I know this is off topic, but I always chuckle that the apostles chose the 12th apostle (after Judas), by drawing Lot’s, essentially flipping a coin. I wonder if that’s how they should select the Popes?

I thought that casting lots was a tradition God instructed in the OT as a way to discern his will. However I also thought that the NT teaches discernment through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Anybody know why the apostles resorted to casting lots?

 

[Mark77]

I know this is off topic, but I always chuckle that the apostles chose the 12th apostle (after Judas), by drawing Lot’s, essentially flipping a coin. I wonder if that’s how they should select the Popes?

**It wasn’t quite just flipping a coin. It sounds like both were highly qualified & they relied on the Holy Spirit to guide them;

“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us–one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab’bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi’as. 24 And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” (ACTS 1:21-25)

Some Popes may have been chosen by evil men who refused to listen to the Holy Spirit, but Jesus assured us;

“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (MT 16:18)

Even if unworthy men (we are all unworthy) were Pope, none could err in matters of Faith & Morals!**

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

 

[Ranp]

Actually the first Pope was hand picked by Godl.