The Pope is "just a shepherd"

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A Catholic friend of mine, who says he isn’t “ultra-orthodox” but more “liberal”, (to which I protested by saying that there is only one Catholic Church that teaches orthodoxy) in a debate on the infallible teaching of the Church on Faith and Morals exclaimed to me that " the Pope is only a shepherd, that’s all" which would make his role no different than any parish priest. Is it that many Catholics are poorly catechised or at odds with some of the teaching (especially Moral Theology), or a number of things that the Holy Father is reduced to “only a shepherd”? Please, share your thoughts. Pax Caritas.
 
Cam-masta,

As much as I hate to say this, your friend is quite misinformed. In my experience many Catholics are poorly catechized. The Pope is the supreme pastor of the Church.

John 21:15 When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. 17 He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

In this way, Jesus gave Peter primacy over the whole Church. To say that the Pope is just another shepard is a very Protestant notion.
 
It would be correct to say that the Pope is the chief shepherd. The visible head of the Church, Christ is the invisible head.
 
bones_IV said:
It would be correct to say that the Pope is the chief shepherd. The visible head of the Church, Christ is the invisible head.
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Thanks bones - “Chief” is a much better word than “Top”. Dont know why I didnt think of it. 😃 Top was the only thing that came to mind.
 
Cam-masta said:
A Catholic friend of mine…exclaimed to me that " the Pope is only a shepherd, that’s all" Please, share your thoughts. Pax Caritas.
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THE PAPACY

Matthew 16:18-19
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 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.

Ask your friend what “whatever” means. Awesome authority, don’t you think? Is this the kind of authority that God gives to “just a shepherd”?

Luke 22:31
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift youa] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

a]The Greek is plural; Satan wanted to test all the Apostles. In verse 35, Jesus states that he has prayed for Simon alone (the Greek is singular) that Simon might strengthen the others. This is another example of Peter’s primacy within the Church.

Again, does this suggest that the Pope is “just a shepherd” - no different than a parish priest?

John 21:15-19
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Here, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has just handed his crook to Peter and told him to watch over the flock while He is away. Not only does this elevate Peter above the other Apostles, but it suggests Apostolic Succession since Jesus intended to be away for quite awhile…longer than Peter’s lifetime, for sure.

Finally, how many flocks are there?

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

Now, each priest is pastor of his own particular parish, but they all report to a Bishop who also carries a crozier or crook symbolizing his role as shepherd of the local flock. The pope, in turn, is the shepherd of shepherds in that as Bishop of Rome, he is responsible for the entire worldwide flock or Church.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:
 
In Luke 5:1-11 Peter is promised by our Lord that he would be made a fisher of men.

Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon’s, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship. 4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke. 7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking. 8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. 10 And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.

Vatican I

“We therefore teach and declare that, according to the testimony of the Gospel, the primacy of jurisdiction over the universal Church of God was immediately and directly promised and given to Blessed Peter the Apostle by Christ our Lord. ….] And it was upon Simon Peter alone that Jesus after his resurrection bestowed the jurisdiction of chief pastor and ruler over all the fold in the words: ‘Feed my lambs; feed my sheep’” (Pastor aeternus, chap. 1).

Vatican II

“In order that the episcopate also might be one and undivided, and that ….] the multitude of the faithful might be kept secure in the oneness of faith and communion, he set Blessed Peter over the rest of the Apostles, and fixed in him the abiding principle of this twofold unity, and it’s visible foundation” (Pastor aeturnus, Dz-Sch 3051; cf. Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 18).
 
lorathon said:
Thanks bones - “Chief” is a much better word than “Top”. Dont know why I didnt think of it. 😃 Top was the only thing that came to mind.
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Sometimes the best apologetic arguments happen after the argument itself. 😛

I learned this to my detriment, but I’ve learned to deal with it. I just acknowledge the other party’s argument and ask for the opportunity to explain. If he’s willing to listen, good! If not, I just shrug my shoulders and let him think he’s won his “game”.
 
You might describe the Pope as the Shepherd of the shepherds.

(Jesus words to Peter at the Last Supper in regard to the other apostles: Luke 22:32 …but I have prayed for you (Peter) that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." )

Nita
 
A shepherd is no bad thing to be… Jesus claimed he was just a shepherd too. And the pope has no more authority than Jesus had.

I think your friend needs to recognize that the sheep that follow Jesus, follow His selected shepherd. If you don’t follow the shepherd, you are not following Christ.

“My sheep know me, and I know them”
 
Since Ratzinger is from Germany?

Does that make him a German Shepherd? :whistle:
 
Good solid answers. I am still very new to the Faith (just over 1 year) so I have much to learn. These are all arguments I was aware of, but needed some refreshing on. I should memorize these Scriptural proof texts for sure. Thanks everyone!
 
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