Role of the Pope

I would like to clarify the Catholic Church’s view of the Pope. Catholics do not consider the Pope to be an idol, like some people suggest. We regard the Pope as the Vicar of Christ on earth.

Starting with St. Peter, there is an unbroken succession of Popes. Though they are not all models of good behavior, none has taught anything that is untrue. The role of the Pope is to instruct Catholics in faith and morals. He is not a god but more of a teacher and our "Holy Father." That in no way means that his role supercedes God.

Catholics do not believe that the Pope is impeccable (unable to sin), nor do we believe that he is supernatural or someone to be worshipped. Instead, he is the very human man who is the visible head of the Church on earth. The Trinitarian God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the only One who should be worshipped.

To outsiders, it might appear that Catholics worship the Pope, or Mary or even crucifixes. However, we just regard the holiness in each of these people and things. In other words, we see Jesus in them, so they deserve our respect and love.

In the case of the Pope, we know that God gave us the gift of the papacy so that we would have a perfectly reliable voice that can lead the Church on earth. The Holy Spirit leads the Pope, and therefore the Pope is our teacher and father, but he should never be considered an object of worship.