Why does the Creed specifically mention Pontius Pilate?

[Elaine511]

The creed states that Jesus “was crucified under Pontius Pilate”. Does this mean we hold Pilate responsible for Jesus’ death? Pilate washes his hands of the deed, but is he condemned to hell for not stopping the crucifixion? It was prophesied that the messiah would be put to death, therefore, did Pilate really have a choice if the scripture had to be fulfilled?

 

[Fr.Eric_Filmer]

Hello Elaine511.

The Creed specifically mentions Pontius Pilate to emphasize that Jesus is an actual historical person. He is God but he is also a man who once walked this earth and was put on trial by a Roman official. The Creed contains statements of faith but there is a historicity to them as well.

Pilate shared in the responsibility of Jesus’ crucifixion, as does every person who ever sinned. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

598: In her Magisterial teaching of the faith and in the witness of her saints, the Church has never forgotten that “sinners were the authors and the ministers of all the sufferings that the divine Redeemer endured.”

In terms of the actions Pilate specifically committed in the trial and execution of Christ, consider the following statement from the Catechism:

600: To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of “predestination”, he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace: “In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness.

(The above “In this city…” verse is from Acts 4:27-28)

Therefore, even though the divine plan of salvation for humanity included Jesus dying for our sins, Pilate’s involvement still resulted from actions he freely chose to make. But the Church does not definitely know who is specifically in hell, even concerning people such as Pilate. When asked such questions, I usually pass along something I once heard Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., say in similar situations: “That’s a Management question; I’m in sales.”