That’s why I’m asking (?).How do you know God DOESN’T select the pope?
I doubt it.Is there anything in Church teaching to suggest that God “actively” selects the Pope? Or is it a case that humans select the Pope and God merely respects and presides behind such decision: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven"” (Matthew 16:19).
Church history. For one thing, many Papal elections, especially in the Renaissance, were won by bribery; for another, the behavior of some popes. Read the history of the Papacy in the 10th century, when a woman named Marozia ran things behind the scene, murdered some popes so she could dictate the election of others,including, if I remember rightly, her own son; or the Babylonian Captivity, when there were as many as three claimants to the Throne of Peter at the same time, and no one knew which, if any, was God’s choice. Renaissance popes appointed their “nephews” (i.e. children) as cardinals while they were teenagers, despoiled the treasury to provide for their families, poisoned rivals, and sold church offices routinely. The reason Tetzel was selling indulgences throughout Germany in 1517, which sparked the Reformation, was that Albert had to buy the privilege of being appointed Archbishop of Mainz from the Pope, who was raising funds to build St. Peter’s. It’s hard to believe God was responsible for the election of monsters like Benedict XI or Alexander VI.How do you know God DOESN’T select the pope?
I am not knowledgeable on all the details of Popes throughout the Church, but I have heard there were some Popes that were of questionable character. Just as there are other members of the clergy and the laity who have been the same. Going right back to Judas this has been the case.Church history. For one thing, many Papal elections, especially in the Renaissance, were won by bribery; for another, the behavior of some popes. Read the history of the Papacy in the 10th century, when a woman named Marozia ran things behind the scene, murdered some popes so she could dictate the election of others,including, if I remember rightly, her own son; or the Babylonian Captivity, when there were as many as three claimants to the Throne of Peter at the same time, and no one knew which, if any, was God’s choice. Renaissance popes appointed their “nephews” (i.e. children) as cardinals while they were teenagers, despoiled the treasury to provide for their families, poisoned rivals, and sold church offices routinely. The reason Tetzel was selling indulgences throughout Germany in 1517, which sparked the Reformation, was that Albert had to buy the privilege of being appointed Archbishop of Mainz from the Pope, who was raising funds to build St. Peter’s. It’s hard to believe God was responsible for the election of monsters like Benedict XI or Alexander VI.
Even if people forced their way to the Papal office, they can’t change doctrine. It works like the president and the Constitution. People elect the president, but he must still follow the Constitution, even if he’s a monster, [edited].Church history. For one thing, many Papal elections, especially in the Renaissance, were won by bribery; for another, the behavior of some popes. Read the history of the Papacy in the 10th century, when a woman named Marozia ran things behind the scene, murdered some popes so she could dictate the election of others,including, if I remember rightly, her own son; or the Babylonian Captivity, when there were as many as three claimants to the Throne of Peter at the same time, and no one knew which, if any, was God’s choice. Renaissance popes appointed their “nephews” (i.e. children) as cardinals while they were teenagers, despoiled the treasury to provide for their families, poisoned rivals, and sold church offices routinely. The reason Tetzel was selling indulgences throughout Germany in 1517, which sparked the Reformation, was that Albert had to buy the privilege of being appointed Archbishop of Mainz from the Pope, who was raising funds to build St. Peter’s. It’s hard to believe God was responsible for the election of monsters like Benedict XI or Alexander VI.
Sorry Jean.Even if people forced their way to the Papal office, they can’t change doctrine. It works like the president and the Constitution. People elect the president, but he must still follow the Constitution, even if he’s a monster, [edited].
You provided the question and the answer simultaneously.Is there anything in Church teaching to suggest that God “actively” selects the Pope? Or is it a case that humans select the Pope and God merely respects and presides behind such decision: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven"” (Matthew 16:19).