Universality of the PapacyUniversality of the Papacy

Photos provided by Diocese of La Crosse / Franz Klein

Every diocesan bishop is the chief Every diocesan bishop is the chief pastor or local ordinary of a portion of pastor or local ordinary of a portion of the people of God territorially defined.the people of God territorially defined.

The term “Bishop of Rome” refers to The term “Bishop of Rome” refers to the diocesan bishop who is the chief the diocesan bishop who is the chief

pastor or ordinary of the city of Rome.pastor or ordinary of the city of Rome.

Strictly speaking, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome in that he Strictly speaking, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome in that he has all ordinary, proper, and immediate power that is required has all ordinary, proper, and immediate power that is required for the exercise of his pastoral function within the territorial for the exercise of his pastoral function within the territorial limits of the Diocese of Rome.limits of the Diocese of Rome.

However, the Bishop of Rome is also the successor of St. However, the Bishop of Rome is also the successor of St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome.Peter, the first Bishop of Rome.

St. Peter and St. Peter and Apostolic SuccessionApostolic Succession

Since St. Peter, there has been an Since St. Peter, there has been an unbroken line of successors up to and unbroken line of successors up to and including Pope Benedict XVI.including Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Benedict XVI was elected on Pope Benedict XVI was elected on April 19, 2005 after the death of Pope April 19, 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI was elected in a Pope Benedict XVI was elected in a conclave, which means “with a key,” conclave, which means “with a key,” since the voting Cardinals are locked since the voting Cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel for the process in the Sistine Chapel for the process of electing a new pope.of electing a new pope.

The Bishop of The Bishop of Rome, as successor Rome, as successor of St. Peter, is of St. Peter, is entrusted with entrusted with unique powers not unique powers not given to other given to other bishops; he is bishops; he is given the power of given the power of the keys.the keys.

The Pope’s title as The Pope’s title as Bishop of RomeBishop of Rome is is preeminent over preeminent over all of the other all of the other titles of the Pope, titles of the Pope, such as head of the such as head of the college of bishops, college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ the Vicar of Christ and the pastor of and the pastor of the universal the universal Church on earth.Church on earth.

The relationship between the Pope The relationship between the Pope and the bishops of the Catholic and the bishops of the Catholic Church is identical to the Church is identical to the relationship between Peter and the relationship between Peter and the other 11 Apostles.other 11 Apostles.

The Gospels speak of the Apostles The Gospels speak of the Apostles as “the Twelve,” indicating a as “the Twelve,” indicating a corporate identity.corporate identity.

As a permanent assembly, Jesus As a permanent assembly, Jesus chose Peter to be their head.chose Peter to be their head.

The Power of the Keys which Jesus Christ gave to The Power of the Keys which Jesus Christ gave to Peter, indicates that Peter and his successors are Peter, indicates that Peter and his successors are the shepherds or leaders of the Church.the shepherds or leaders of the Church.

Jesus also gave Peter the power to bind and Jesus also gave Peter the power to bind and loose, a power which was shared with the other loose, a power which was shared with the other Apostles; this power continues in the Church Apostles; this power continues in the Church today in the persons of the Pope and bishops as today in the persons of the Pope and bishops as their successors.their successors.

It is to all of the It is to all of the Apostles, together Apostles, together with St. Peter, that with St. Peter, that the Lord gives the the Lord gives the mission to “go mission to “go forth and make forth and make disciples of all disciples of all nations, baptizing nations, baptizing them in the name them in the name of the Father, and of the Father, and of the Son, and of of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to teaching them to observe all that I observe all that I have commanded have commanded you.”you.”

The Primacy of Peter as head of the Apostles is The Primacy of Peter as head of the Apostles is shown very concretely in the selection of shown very concretely in the selection of

bishops. The Pope calls those who are to be bishops. The Pope calls those who are to be bishops and appoints them as members of the bishops and appoints them as members of the

college of bishops.college of bishops.

Only the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, can Only the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, can appoint bishops as successors to the appoint bishops as successors to the

Twelve Apostles.Twelve Apostles.

Just as the Pope is the visible source and Just as the Pope is the visible source and foundation of unity for the universal Church, foundation of unity for the universal Church, individual bishops, in union with the Pope, individual bishops, in union with the Pope,

are the visible source and foundation of are the visible source and foundation of their own particular dioceses.their own particular dioceses.

These particular These particular Churches are not Churches are not “branch offices” “branch offices” of the universal of the universal

Church, nor Church, nor should the should the

universal Church universal Church be considered as be considered as simply the sum, simply the sum,

or the or the federation, of all federation, of all

the particular the particular churches.churches.

Rather, a diocese constitutes a Rather, a diocese constitutes a particular Church in which the one, particular Church in which the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and operative.Christ is truly present and operative.

The Pope is the head of the College of The Pope is the head of the College of

Bishops, and as such, exercises Bishops, and as such, exercises authority over all of the Church.authority over all of the Church.

The PapacyThe Papacy

The Pope (“papa” from the Greek The Pope (“papa” from the Greek papaspapas, a variant of pappas, meaning , a variant of pappas, meaning “father.”)“father.”)

The title Pope is employed solely to The title Pope is employed solely to denote the Bishop of Rome, who, in denote the Bishop of Rome, who, in virtue of his position as successor of virtue of his position as successor of St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the whole Church, the Vicar of Christ on whole Church, the Vicar of Christ on earth.earth.

Papal FunctionsPapal Functions

1. Universal jurisdiction over 1. Universal jurisdiction over

the Church.the Church.

2. Immediate jurisdiction over 2. Immediate jurisdiction over

the Holy See and jurisdiction the Holy See and jurisdiction

over all Catholic churches in the over all Catholic churches in the

world.world.

3. The right of entertaining 3. The right of entertaining appeals appeals

in all ecclesiastical causes.in all ecclesiastical causes.

The ordinary functions of the Pope are:The ordinary functions of the Pope are:

Papal FunctionsPapal Functions

In virtue of his In virtue of his office as office as supreme teacher supreme teacher and ruler of the and ruler of the faithful, the chief faithful, the chief control of every control of every department of department of the Church’s life the Church’s life belongs to the belongs to the pope.pope.

Papal FunctionsPapal Functions

Further, the Pope directs all Catholic Further, the Pope directs all Catholic missions throughout the world and he missions throughout the world and he can interpret authentically the natural can interpret authentically the natural law.law.

He legislates for the Church and has the He legislates for the Church and has the authority to interpret Church law.authority to interpret Church law.

The Pope oversees the worship and The Pope oversees the worship and prayer of the entire Church.prayer of the entire Church.

The Pope as TeacherThe Pope as Teacher

As supreme teacher of the Church, As supreme teacher of the Church, the pope can set forth creeds, the pope can set forth creeds,

prescribe books to be written for theprescribe books to be written for thereligious instruction of the faith, religious instruction of the faith,

and establish a university.and establish a university.

Pope Benedict XVI