Question #3 What is the Pope to us Catholics? Someone once asked me years ago if he represented God on Earth to us. Does he?
To Catholics, he is the Vicar of Christ—the representative of Christ on earth. But it’s important to remember that we as church are Body of Christ. So again, he is the “head” or leader of the Body of Christ on earth. But I would try to emphasize less a leadership that is based on “kingly power” and one that is based on service. Bishops main ministry is that of teaching. To instruct the faithful so that they can better follow the path of Christ. Additionally, especially for the Pope, they are to exercise a ministry of unity, that is to be open to collegiality, to stress the importance of communion, and thus to address the needs of a global church in the modern world.
To Catholics, he is the Vicar of Christ—the representative of Christ on earth. But it’s important to remember that we as church are Body of Christ. So again, he is the “head” or leader of the Body of Christ on earth. But I would try to emphasize less a leadership that is based on “kingly power” and one that is based on service. Bishops main ministry is that of teaching. To instruct the faithful so that they can better follow the path of Christ. Additionally, especially for the Pope, they are to exercise a ministry of unity, that is to be open to collegiality, to stress the importance of communion, and thus to address the needs of a global church in the modern world.
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