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Top 6 Surprising Things the Roman Church Teaches about the Pope

9/21/2015

6 Comments

 
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If you haven't heard, the pope has come for a visit. 

The Lutheran Church has, from the start, had a few things to say about the pope, but what does the pope say about himself? What is the Romanist teaching on who the pope is? 

Here is a list of the top 6 most surprising things that Roman Catholic Church teaches about the pope. 
​#6: The pope has primacy over the entire world.

The pope is the boss, not only of the church, but also of the world. Here it is from the Council of Florence (1439): 

"We also define that the holy apostolic see and the Roman pontiff holds the primacy over the whole world and the Roman pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter prince of the apostles, and that he is the true vicar of Christ, the head of the whole church and the father and teacher of all Christians, and to him was committed in blessed Peter the full power of tending, ruling and governing the whole church, as is contained also in the acts of ecumenical councils and in the sacred canons."

This paragraph defines the universal claims of the pope. We also see in it the claim of the Roman Catholic Church that the pope is the successor of Peter and the vicar of Christ. 

The claim to primacy in both the church and the state is an ancient claim of the popes. In Unam Sanctam (1302) argues that the pope possess "both swords" this way:

"We are informed by the texts of the gospels that in this Church and in its power are two swords; namely, the spiritual and the temporal. For when the Apostles say: 'Behold, here are two swords' [Lk 22:38] that is to say, in the Church, since the Apostles were speaking, the Lord did not reply that there were too many, but sufficient."

We might find the Biblical support for this assertion a bit wanting.  

#5: The pope is the pillar of faith and the foundation of the Church.

Here's an excerpt from Vatican I (2:2, 1870):

"For no one can be in doubt, indeed it was known in every age that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the apostles, the pillar of faith and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our lord Jesus Christ, the savior and redeemer of the human race, and that to this day and for ever he lives and presides and exercises judgment in his successors the bishops of the Holy Roman See, which he founded and consecrated with his blood." 

In the paragraph preceding this excerpt, the pope serves the "continual salvation and permanent benefit" of the Church. When the Roman Catholic Church talks about the church being built on the rock, that rock is understood to be the pope.

#4: The unity of the Church is found in the pope.

Who knew. Here's another quotation from Vatican I (3:3-4, 1870): 

"In this way, by unity with the Roman Pontiff in communion and in profession of the same faith, the Church of Christ becomes one flock under one Supreme Shepherd. This is the teaching of the Catholic truth, and no one can depart from it without endangering his faith and salvation."

The Roman Catholic Church not only teaches that the church finds her unity in the pope, but it also makes the confession of this truth a matter of salvation. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Q 882, 1995) teaches this same thing, quoting Vatican II: 

"The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, 'is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.'"

#3: The pope is the head of the church. 

Vatican I, quoting the Council of Florence: 

"...the Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff hold a world-wide primacy, and that the Roman Pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, true vicar of Christ, head of the whole Church and father and teacher of all Christian people." 

The Scriptures teach that Christ is the head of the church (see Ephesians 1:22 and Colossians 1:18), but the pope claims to be the "vicar" of Christ, to stand in the place of Christ on the earth. This leads to some particularly difficult teachings, for example, this excerpt from Unam Sanctam (1302): 

"Therefore, of the one and only Church there is one body and one head, not two heads like a monster; that is, Christ and the Vicar of Christ, Peter, and the successor of Peter."

Amazing. The "one head" of the Church is (1) Christ, and (2) the Vicar of Christ, Peter, and (3) the successor of Peter. The only way to make this math make sense is to make the pope into Christ. 

#2: The pope teaches infallibly. 

This, again, is made dogma in Vatican I (4:9, 1870): 

"Therefore, faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, to the glory of God our savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion and for the salvation of the Christian people, with the approval of the Sacred Council, we teach and define as a divinely revealed dogma that when the Roman Pontiff speaks ex cathedra, that is, when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, he possesses, by the divine Documents Related to Papal Supremacy  assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his Church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the Church, irreformable. So then, should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of ours: let him be anathema." 

"Anathema" means condemned, and Vatican I has this anathema for anyone who would deny the infallibility of the pope. 

#1: It is necessary for salvation to be subject to the pope. 

We're going way back for this one, Unam Sanctam (1302), where we read this flourishing end to this papal bull: 

"Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff."

This bold and astonishingly godless assertion needs little comment. 

There is much more that that the Roman Catholic Church says about the pope. All of the above quotations may be read in context by clicking the link below. Download, read, share, be astonished...
papalsupremacy.pdf
File Size: 167 kb
File Type: pdf
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6 Comments
David Cochrane link
9/23/2015 05:34:41 pm

And our folk who are in communion with the Pope wonder why we hesitate in joining with them. Thank you for putting this together.

Reply
Zach
2/9/2017 12:59:30 pm

Well I guess since the LCMS does not believe or teach mortal sin ( a grave sin that separates you from the grace of God) then I will go to Heaven anyway. Because your pope (Martin Luther) claims that all I need is Faith Alone (by the way is no where written in Sacred scripture which is kinda important if you also believe in Scripture alone). I am a devout Catholic and I have a true faith, so by your standards I could be wrong in supporting the pope but have faith and be in Heaven when I die. However if you ( a Lutheran) deny these teachings and it ends up that you were wrong then your salvation may be at risk.

Maybe you should read some writings of the early Church Fathers. Granted they are all Catholic (which should not surprise you since your church didn't start until 1500 years later) it will give you an idea how things were done immediately after the apostles died.

Reply
Louise
3/4/2017 09:41:20 am

Its all about Jesus my friend. Not the pope, not Luther.

Reply
Jeff Arnold
12/27/2017 01:47:59 pm

Zach,
You are absolutely correct, as I'm sure Pr. W would agree, that you are being saved through your faith in Christ regardless of what the Roman Church might teach concerning mortal sin. LCMS does not teach the concept of mortal sin because the Bible knows nothing of it either. The Bible does, however know of God's grace, through faith, which is a gift of God as per Ephesians 2:8-9. Pr. W is pointing to the misdirection and un-Biblical teachings of the Roman Church which still exist today. Many people believe that the Roman Church no longer maintains these errors, but they are extant. May I suggest that you thoughtfully consider these candid facts that Pr. W points out? It might bring you to a better understanding of the truth of God's Word, and lead you to a more comforting assurance of your salvation. Your Brother in Christ, Jeff Arnold.

Reply
Des Esmond
11/19/2020 11:07:51 am

Martin Luther was a crazy man who, in his demented state, thought he could scare away evil spirits with his farts. Look it up, that is true.

What he did do, in my opinion, that was right was to challenge the Vatican's power. I was raised Catholic but am now atheist. I don't believe in any of this garbage and I think you are all cranks to be honest.

However, it is right to challenge the Vatican as it is very much like America and the American ideal of power, greed and material wealth. That is what Luther objected to. OK, he had some gripes from a theological standpoint but as an atheist I couldn't care less about those.

The fact is that the Catholic Church is evil. Actually all religions are evil. You're all going to Hell in a handbasket.

Reply
Bern
11/24/2021 08:39:25 pm

Dear Des Esmond,
It is mine and all our hope, that you've come around and have repented since. Just know that You are very much loved and of priceless value to Christ - You are "...wonderfully and fearfully made".

Be well and may the Lord bless you.

Reply



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    Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

    Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller and his wife Keri have four wonderful children, Hannah, Andrew, Daniel and Isaac. He received his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft Wayne, IN in the spring of 2005. He received the divine call to serve as the pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, and began his service in June, 2005.

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