Is this statement by St. Catherine of Siena in any way heretical?

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I have a friend who claims the following quote from St. Catherine of Siena is heretical, but I don’t see how that can be since she is a Doctor of the Church? Can you please explain what she actually means here?

“Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him, but calmly lie down to rest on his bosom. He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death, for that which we do to him we do to Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the Pope; we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the Pope. I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: “They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!” But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the sake of God, and out of obedience to Him.” — St. Catherine of Siena, SCS, p. 201-202, p. 222, (quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 5: “The Book of Obedience”, Chapter 1: “There is No Salvation Without Personal Submission to the Pope”).

Thank you!
Cassie H.
 
Hi,

These are merely an examples of hyperbole which is defined as: obvious and intentional exaggeration. The second definition clarifies even further: an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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