Why do we need a pope?

[jediliz]

because we need someone to make sure Christ’s church stays united and doesn’t break into 30,000+ fragments because of lack of leadership on a higher level.

 

[Slaney]

because we need someone to make sure Christ’s church stays united and doesn’t break into 30,000+ fragments because of lack of leadership on a higher level.

Yes like Heinz Beans ! 57 different varieties !

 

[Limerickman]

Well the Bible clearly ordains the Office of Pontiff.

However, in old Christendom the Bishop of Rome was one of 5 patriarchs throughout the Church.

I think the modern role of Pope has changed and perhaps a more collegiate system might actually help the incumbent Pope.

For example, these days the Pope has to be multi talented.
The Pope needs to be able to speak several languages given the demands of access through the media and access throughout the world.
The Pope needs to be physically fit if he’s to consider travelling throughout his worldwide parish.

So the demands on the Pontiff have grown proportionately in many ways in recent times.

In the context of these more new demands, a more collegiate support for the role of Pope should be considered in order to help to support the Holy Father.
Of course, the role of the Holy Father must be retained - but this should not stop there being some thought in to how to help the incumbent.

 

[po18guy]

Pope Fiction by Patrick Madrid.

However, nothing that anyone on earth, not even your friend’s pastor, can convince your friend that Christ appointed Peter head of the Apostles, or that the office is needed. Even though the evidence is absolutely overwhelming in the bible alone, no one will be convinced on that basis. It has been tried and has failed almost every time. Words do not convince.

Only the Holy Spirit can do that. Pray for that person at least as much as you plan on talking to them. Let the spirit do the work, and use you when needed.

 

[babs57]

Well the Bible clearly ordains the Office of Pontiff.

However, in old Christendom the Bishop of Rome was one of 5 patriarchs throughout the Church.

I think the modern role of Pope has changed and perhaps a more collegiate system might actually help the incumbent Pope.

For example, these days the Pope has to be multi talented.
The Pope needs to be able to speak several languages given the demands of access through the media and access throughout the world.
The Pope needs to be physically fit if he’s to consider travelling throughout his worldwide parish.

So the demands on the Pontiff have grown proportionately in many ways in recent times.

In the context of these more new demands, a more collegiate support for the role of Pope should be considered in order to help to support the Holy Father.
Of course, the role of the Holy Father must be retained - but this should not stop there being some thought in to how to help the incumbent.

The pope appoints many different and differently tallented people to support him. Not everything is left up to him alone. Even when he speaks on matters of doctrine, he has at his diaposal, all of the cardinals and theologians, who discuss and debate the issues with and for him. Having more “Popes” (“Patriarchs”) would only complicate things.

 

[TheDoctor]

What do we do when they say “if the pope is infallible on teachings why is he wrong sometimes?”

You calmly and as politely as possible explain to them that the Pope, when teaching on faith or morals, is protected by the Holy Spirit from teaching error and we call this infallibility. The Pope, when not specifically teaching on faith or morals, can make mistakes like everyone else, including your friends. The quality of being without error or fault is impeccability. The Pope is not impeccable but can, teach infallibly.

 

[R_C]

I have been thinking lately. Why do we need a pope? I don’t mean to switch to bible only and interpret as I please. I mean why is there one pope instead of a council of clergy in permanent residence at the Vatican. They decide issues and release speeches. God bless all answers.

Because a body has many members, but one head.

 

[Limerickman]

The pope appoints many different and differently tallented people to support him. Not everything is left up to him alone. Even when he speaks on matters of doctrine, he has at his diaposal, all of the cardinals and theologians, who discuss and debate the issues with and for him. Having more “Popes” (“Patriarchs”) would only complicate things.

The Patriarchal system lasted centuries in Old Christendom.

I take your point about the Pope having resources at his disposal though.

 

[SaintPatrick333]

Papal supremacy.

check out scripturecatholic.com

 

[IesumPerMariam]

The Patriarchal system lasted centuries in Old Christendom.

I take your point about the Pope having resources at his disposal though.

There still are four Latin Patriarchs, six Eastern Rite Patriarchs, and four Eastern Major Archbishops.

The Bishop of Rome has always enjoyed sovereignty above all other positions though.

 

[revert_jen]

All good points. However what about when the Protestants pull the verse where Saint Paul calls Saint Peter out on his error? How do we answer that?

Well first we say, no Pope was ever without sin. ALL popes were sinners. And so there is nothing wrong with St. Paul calling out St. Peter on his error.

The interesting thing to note is that Peter’s teachings were correct. It is just his practices that weren’t living up to it. I think that may have happened MANY times in the 2000 years of the Church. For Papal infallibility, the Holy Spirit does not guarantee that the Pope will never be in error, make a mistake, or commit a sin. He only guarantees that the Pope will not teach error on matters of faith and morals.

As to the original question on the thread, the Pope is the visible symbol of unity for the Church and is also the means of maintaining that unity. The buck has to stop somewhere, and it can’t be at a committee. Anyone who’s ever been on a committee knows why this is.

–Jen

 

[Limerickman]

There still are four Latin Patriarchs, six Eastern Rite Patriarchs, and four Eastern Major Archbishops.

The Bishop of Rome has always enjoyed sovereignty above all other positions though.

I take that point.

I guess I am suggesting that there can be changes made to the organisational structure of the Church which could be considered in order to support more readily the office of the Pontiff
along an intra Roman Catholic patriarchal structure if required.

Don’t get me wrong, I support the concept of the Pontiff and recognise him as the undisputed leader of the Church.

But we live in a modern world where the demands upon the Pontiff have increased expotentially and it is in this context that some thought might be given as to amending the organisational structure to give better support to what is an onerous task both in terms of meeting the demands of the role and the expectations of the billions of followers.

 

[R_C]

I take that point.

I guess I am suggesting that there can be changes made to the organisational structure of the Church which could be considered in order to support more readily the office of the Pontiff
along an intra Roman Catholic patriarchal structure if required.

Don’t get me wrong, I support the concept of the Pontiff and recognise him as the undisputed leader of the Church.

But we live in a modern world where the demands upon the Pontiff have increased expotentially and it is in this context that some thought might be given as to amending the organisational structure to give better support to what is an onerous task both in terms of meeting the demands of the role and the expectations of the billions of followers.

In fact, the demands upon the Pontiff are not as high as when he held in his hands both spiritual and temporal power and when he could depose emperors and determine the history of whole countries

However, I do agree with the idea that the Petrine leadership must somehow be expressed in a way that does not change or diminish the dignity of the office but adapts it to the days at hand. There were times in which the Pope had to be in fact a monarch amidst monarch, the difference being that He was God’s Vicar, so not just a king, but the representative of the king of kings. Nowadays the world has changed and we no longer have kings (at least, not in appearance), and while it would be nonsense to reduce the government of the Church to a “democratic” system, the figure of the Pope must match the century to some degree…and I think the Church has done a good job at this…especially in this past century, we have seen the Pope be much closer to the faithful than ever before…it’s a delicate balance, though, that which must be preserved

 

[babs57]

In fact, the demands upon the Pontiff are not as high as when he held in his hands both spiritual and temporal power and when he could depose emperors and determine the history of whole countries

However, I do agree with the idea that the Petrine leadership must somehow be expressed in a way that does not change or diminish the dignity of the office but adapts it to the days at hand. There were times in which the Pope had to be in fact a monarch amidst monarch, the difference being that He was God’s Vicar, so not just a king, but the representative of the king of kings. Nowadays the world has changed and we no longer have kings (at least, not in appearance), and while it would be nonsense to reduce the government of the Church to a “democratic” system, the figure of the Pope must match the century to some degree…and I think the Church has done a good job at this…especially in this past century, we have seen the Pope be much closer to the faithful than ever before…it’s a delicate balance, though, that which must be preserved

Great post.

 

[clem456]

This is 100% intuition on my part, but it makes sense to me.

Christ is God incarnated into human flesh. Christ did not come as a multi-headed God spread among numerous people, he has a distinct physical existence. And that points me to the “giftedness” of an individual, the uniqueness of a person, and the dignitiy a person has separate from any other person. The pope is gifted in ways that no one else is.

Did Christ institute Peter to mirror the incarnation and point us to Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true man (not men)?

 

[Boulder257]

Why? Because our Lord wanted it that way: “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”.

Hey, I wanted to say this answer!

In all seriousness though, it’s the best one I can come up with. I think both sides make a good argument for either case, but it’s the way God willed it, so it’s good enough for me.

 

[Boulder257]

Why? Because our Lord wanted it that way: “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”.

Hey, I wanted to say this answer!

In all seriousness though, it’s the best one I can come up with. I think both sides make a good argument for either case, but it’s the way God willed it, so it’s good enough for me.