[W: #11] How important is the Pope? (1 Viewer)

[Real blank]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

 

[Slavister]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth ...

Is God aware of this?

 

[iliveonramen]

There are an estimated 1.3 billion Catholics in the world. There's a lot of Catholics in influential positions in powerful countries.

He's can't exercise real power like order a large army but he's pretty damn influential for a lot of people.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Very, since he wants open borders everywhere - except for the Vatican.

 

[tshade]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

Yes, according to Catholic doctrine, the Pope is considered God's representative on Earth. He is seen as the Vicar of Christ, meaning he represents Christ and holds the authority He delegated to his apostles, particularly Saint Peter. This is rooted in the belief that the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, whom Jesus Christ made the foundation of his Church.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Not important. Less important than the REAL representative of God - Donald Trump.

 

[ataraxia]

There are an estimated 1.3 billion Catholics in the world. There's a lot of Catholics in influential positions in powerful countries.

He's can't exercise real power like order a large army but he's pretty damn influential for a lot of people.

Yeah- but how many of those Catholics actually listen to anything he says? Many Catholics in the US voted for Donald Trump even despite the fact the the last Pope disagreed with most of his positions.

 

[Lovebug]

To me, not at all.
I have a hard time interpreting Matthew 16:18-19 as Christ establishing papacy. If anyone has a biblical reference to a Pope mentioned in the Scriptures, please enlighten me. I've read the Bible in its entirety but might have missed it.
Having said that, human kind seems to have the need to worship something/someone tangible so, instead of making another golden calf they worship the Pope or other creatures.
It is true, as someone mentioned, the RCC holds a lot of influence but so do all rich and powerful.

"as for me and my house, we worship the Lord". I'm good with that.

 

[phoenix2020]

Yeah- but how many of those Catholics actually listen to anything he says? Many Catholics in the US voted for Donald Trump even despite the fact the the last Pope disagreed with most of his positions.

MAGA are by definition not Catholic, since they value loyalty to Trump above adherence to the teachings of the Pope.

 

[Nickyjo]

Very, since he wants open borders everywhere - except for the Vatican.

Nice try. Read Mathew 25.

 

[nota bene]

Moderator's Warning:

The topic is not Trump or Presidential politics. Stick to the topic.

 

[Bullseye]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

1.3 billion of the Earth's 8.2 billion people are Catholics.

 

[Josie]

1.3 billion of the Earth's 8.2 billion people are Catholics.

How many of those Catholics are just Catholics because of tradition and family - not really interested at all in the religion?

 

[Real blank]

1.3 billion of the Earth's 8.2 billion people are Catholics.

Not quite what I mean, I’m aware of the statistics. My point wasn’t supposed to be anti or pro the pope I was more asking how many people will follow his guidance worldwide

 

[AJG]

I don't know much about Catholicism, but if I were to rank positions in terms of importance, I would say a pope is somewhere in between a cardinal and Jesus.

 

[Daisy]

This says it all...

“Isaiah aptly prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me.  It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men. Further, he said to them: “You skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition ” Mark 7:6-9

 

[Perotista]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

I don’t consider the Pope important at all. But then again, I’m not Catholic.

 

[venice_ca]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

I don’t know about worldwide, but in Italy Pope Francis, and most likely Pope Leo as well, highlight how much the rightwing government picks and chooses which Church teachings to follow. Immigrants and refugees are scapegoats, and not welcomed nor treated charitably.

 

[Integrityrespec]

I know that in modern times in the West people don't quite believe that he is God's representative on Earth however, how is his importance seen worldwide?

To Catholics' pretty important. To the overall Christian world, pretty influencial.

 

[Loulit01]

1.3 billion of the Earth's 8.2 billion people are Catholics.

No. 1.3 billion people tick the box that says they're Catholic. That doesn't make them Catholic.

Shocker: 72% of Catholics Don’t Go to Sunday Mass?

‘The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. ... Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.’ (CCC 2181)

www.ncregister.com

 

[Cameron]

Even if only 30% of declared Catholics go to Sunday Mass (540m - including 18.5m in the US), that's still a heck of a lot of people listening on a weekly basis to a message ultimately crafted and steered by the Pope. In contrast, FoxNews only has between 1.8m-3.4m viewers per week.

 

[Loulit01]

Even if only 30% of declared Catholics go to Sunday Mass (540m - including 18.5m in the US), that's still a heck of a lot of people listening on a weekly basis to a message ultimately crafted and steered by the Pope.

Most are either cafeteria Catholics or poor and uneducated. For example, the last country in Europe to allow abortion was Catholic Ireland. Even they ignore church teachings. Catholicism is growing fastest in Africa and South America among the very poor.

In contrast, FoxNews only has between 1.8m-3.4m viewers per week.

Yet FoxNews/Pravda is much more influential than the Pope.

 

[Napoleon]

Yeah- but how many of those Catholics actually listen to anything he says?

There is a persistent misunderstanding among non-Catholics about the authority of the Pope. Nothing the Pope says matters unless it is spoken ex cathedra and that is very rare.

 

[ataraxia]

There is a persistent misunderstanding among non-Catholics about the authority of the Pope. Nothing the Pope says matters unless it is spoken ex cathedra and that is very rare.

I see. So basically he is a ceremonial figurehead- much like King Charles or something. OK. I can see that.

But that means he's not THAT important.

 

[Napoleon]

I see. So basically he is a ceremonial figurehead- much like King Charles or something. OK. I can see that.

But that means he's not THAT important.

He is much more than a ceremonial figurehead but he is also fallible unless and until speaking ex cathedra. Catholics are not bound by anything he says unless it is spoken ex cathedra, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it isnt influential. That was always a big problem with Francis. He had a habit of regularly speaking without thinking and sowed a lot of confusion and error. But he never once made an ex cathedra pronouncement.