Rope-a-Pope

In the few conversations I've had about my interest in all things Catholic, I've noticed most people tend to have strong reactions to the pope (most of you long-time Catholics are rolling your eyes and mentally saying to me "no ____ Sherlock!").  It is understandable; the pope seems like such a “different” type of leader compared to Protestant pastors and speakers and musicians.  There are of course many rumors about Popes: rumors that they cannot sin, rumors that they are “worth more to God” than other people, rumors that they can invent doctrines and add books to the Bible, rumors that every Catholic has to pray to the pope and that then the pope delivers those prayers to God and on and on and on.  And on top of all that, the current pope sure looks an awful lot like the evil Sith Lord, Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. I’m happy to say that those rumors are simply that… rumors  (although Pope Benedict does look like the Emperor, I'll give you that one).  

As I pondered all of this, I was reminded of a fantastic book called Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic, where the author, David Currie, gives some good descriptions of papal infallibility. I’ve also included a few links to other websites that I thought detailed other aspects that might be worth reading.  

I'm sure the response will come up, "Where is the pope mentioned in the Bible?"  I can honestly answer, no, the word pope does not appear in the Bible.  Of course the challenge in response to that would be, “Show me from the Bible where it says that everything has to be shown from the Bible.” <hint, you won’t find that verse anywhere>, but I digress...

The word “pope” is Greek and it basically means father or even “papa.”  He is considered the father of the Church, leading it and protecting it.  However the position of pope existed long before the term and this position is mentioned in the Bible.  The pope is really the Bishop of Rome (and bishops are mentioned several times in the Bible).  Bishops (in the Catholic Church) more or less shepherd over a region (there is, for example, a Bishop of Nashville, a Bishop of Rockford, a Bishop of South Dakota, etc).  They are not independent and they act as a part of the whole rest of the Church.  They are regional overseers of the worldwide Church.

The pope is the Bishop of Rome… but he is not just the Bishop of Rome, he is the bishop over the other bishops, the first among equals.  Catholics believe this office was given to the Apostle Peter by Jesus himself.  I can’t say I 100% believe that yet, but I do think it is makes sense when compared to Scripture and I do find the argument to be a compelling one.  I hope that clears things up!  Without further ado, here are some good explanations from Currie's book, which I would recommend to anyone (Catholic or Protestant) looking for a good introduction to this (and other) topics that often divide Catholics and Protestants.  

“Some Evangelicals wish that Rome’s authority within the Catholic Church were less complex, or less physical, or less spiritual, or less worldly, or less something else. They yearn for the elusive “simple religion of Jesus”. We must never forget, however, that it is not our prerogative to demand change to suit our fancy. The keys to rule the Church permanently were given to Peter and to his successors in Rome, not even to the other apostles, let alone to me. If I refuse the key provided, I have only myself to blame if I fumble at the door (Kindle Locations 733-736).”

One other issue concerning the pope needs to be clarified for most Evangelicals. It relates to the claim of papal infallibility. Catholics do not believe that the pope is perfect, or faultless, or sinless, or even necessarily good, holy, wise, or nice. There have certainly been popes who have made foolish mistakes, enacted ruinous policies, or been bona fide scoundrels. There is one thing, however, that no pope has ever done in all history, from Peter to the present day. No pope has ever taught heresy...

As an Evangelical, I always accepted the infallibility of Paul or Peter or John when they wrote their epistles. This did not mean, however, that they were faultless in their daily lives or in their conversations. Infallibility applied only to their canonical writings. No one ever claimed that the apostles were perfect.

It is much the same with the infallibility of the pope. The pope is infallible only when teaching under very specific, intentional conditions. Infallibility, as it applies to the popes, however, is a much rarer phenomenon than it is for the writers of Scripture. Only twice in the last two centuries has a pope infallibly declared Church teaching in an exercise of this extraordinary Magisterium of the Church (i.e., the pope speaking ex cathedra)...


As an Evangelical, I had always thought that the claim of papal infallibility was a power grab on the part of the pope. It would give any pope the power to fashion things just to his liking. What I came to see, however, is that the truth could not be more opposite. Infallibility is an entirely conservative doctrine. It means that no present or future pope can change (contradict) any dogma that has been accepted by the Church throughout her history. The teaching regarding the infallibility of the popes in faith and morals really gives the most power to the first pope, where it belongs. Each succeeding pope has slightly less latitude than his immediate predecessor. In an era when people have come to desire change for its own sake, this teaching assures us that the original dogma of the Church will be protected through the ages.” (Kindle Locations 824-847)

All quotes taken from David B. Currie. Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic. Kindle Edition.

I would encourage you to take a look at Currie's book (where he goes into more detail) about the papacy and other topics.  He really does a good job explaining things so a Protestant can understand it, and also so a Catholic can understand the fears and hang-ups of many Protestants.  As promised here are a few links to other sites that go into more detail about all things papal.  

Introductory Reading

Catholics Come Home: Church Teaching and the Papacy

Catholic Bridge: Pope

Catholic Answers:  Papal Infallibility

Dave Armstrong:  Biblical Evidence for Papal and Church Infallibility

For Further Reading

Catholic Answers: Tracts in the category of "Papacy"

Dave Armstrong:  Index of articles for "The Papacy"