Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

by Micky Galloway

Pope Benedict XVI has stunned the world with the unexpected announcement that he has decided to resign, the first pope to step down in 600 years. Gregory XII, served as the bishop of Rome from 1406 to 1415. He resigned to resolve a dispute over who should lead the Catholic Church. Regarding the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Mark Morozowich (Dean of Theology, Catholic Univ. of America), said in an interview with Kim Lawton, correspondent for Religion and Ethics (2-15-13), “Isn’t that a profound sign of his own humility in that he was able to recognize when, you know, it just was more than he could handle?” Thomas Reese, S.J, (Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University) proposed qualifications for the new Pope. “Well, I think the cardinals are going to be looking for three things. One, somebody who they think will make a good pope, which means somebody who agrees with them on their values and what they think of the vision of the church. The second is someone that they can have a personal relationship with. I mean they’d really like to have a friend in the pope, and third, I think they want someone who will be accepted and liked in their own country. I mean you think, for example, of the cardinals that live in countries with lots of Muslims. You don’t want the pope saying something that upsets Muslims because that would not be good for the people in their country.” Sounds like a description of Jesus, Peter, or Paul doesn’t it?

Perhaps many of you have been overdosed with the media coverage on the selection of the new Pope of the Roman Catholic church. It is affirmed by the Catholic church that the Pope is the “successor of Peter” who is heralded to be the first Pope of the Catholic church. Let’s compare our Bible to these claims.

Claims of the Catholic Church: “Because he was given the task of guiding the faithful, Peter received supreme authority over all …” (The Papacy: Expression Of God's Love, page 6). “The Pope is the Vicar of Christ; he rules as the visible head of the Church upon earth (emphasis mine, mg) for the welfare of all the faithful. He is the Bishop of Rome, the Patriarch of the West, the Supreme Pontiff, the Servant of the Servants of God” (Ibid., page 4). “According to Catholic doctrine, bishops are indeed the successors of the Apostles, and each bishop, from this fact, possesses the right to bind and to loose” (Ibid., page 25). “Only the Catholic Church … does not cease to recognize the Bishop of Rome as head of the universal Church, and to honor him as the direct successor of Simon Peter” (Ibid., pages 12-13).

Facts: (1) The church that Jesus built had no pope; such began AD 606 when the title of “Universal Bishop” was conferred upon Boniface III. (2) The church that Jesus built had no councils; such began AD 325 when the council of Nicea convened. (3) The church that Jesus built had no orders of priests, diocesan bishops, archbishops, cardinals, synods, dioceses, parishes, monks, nuns, convents, monasteries, or parochial schools; such things began without authorization far this side of the New Testament.

Was the apostle Peter a Pope? Catholic writers often speak of “the primacy of Peter” and “the primacy of the Pope.” However, Colossians 1:18, speaking of Christ, says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (prooteuoo; to be first, hold the first place, Thayer). Therefore, with reference to the authority in the church, the Lord Jesus Christ holds the primacy in all things. This leaves nothing for the Pope!

Catholics claim that the Pope is the “visible” head of the church. The Scriptures do not teach the idea of a visible and invisible head. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Ephesians 5:23-25 shows that Christ is the only head of the church. “For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, (being) himself the saviour of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so (let) the wives also (be) to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it.” Note the singularity of the terms throughout. This leaves no authority for the Pope!

Catholics claim the church is founded on Peter. James Cardinal Gibbons, a Catholic Archbishop said, “Jesus our Lord, founded but one Church, which He was pleased to build on Peter. Therefore, any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone is not the Church of Christ, and therefore cannot stand, for it is not the work of God” (The Faith of Our Fathers, page 82). Yet, the inspired apostle Paul declared, “For other foundation no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus” (I Corinthians 3:11). There is no other foundation but Christ! Therefore, any church which does not recognize Christ alone as the foundation stone cannot be the church of Christ.

Peter was not a pope! Consider these facts:

1. The Apostles did not have rank established among themselves. Binding and loosing authority was given to all apostles (Matthew 16:19; 18:18; John 20:23). Distinctions among them were warned against (Matthew 20:25-28; 23:8-12; cf. II Corinthians 11:5; 12:11). The very fact that the apostles had an argument among themselves (Luke 22:24-26), shows they did not understand that Peter was to be pope. Also, the occasion of the argument was the night of the betrayal, the last night of the Lord’s earthly ministry, and yet the apostles still did not understand that Christ had given Peter a position of primacy. The Lord settled the argument, not by stating that He had already made Peter head, but by declaring that the Gentiles have their heads, “But ye (shall) not (be) so.” Thus, Jesus very plainly taught that no one would occupy any such place as a Benefactor (or Pope) to exercise authority over the others.
2. Christ is head of His church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; I Peter 2:4-6). No “vicar” appointed on earth!
3. Christ is the foundation of His church (not Peter) (I Corinthians 3:11; Acts 4:10-12).
4. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; I Corinthians 9:5).
5. Peter refused worship (Acts 10:25-26).
6. Peter was an elder (I Peter 5:1).
7. Paul equal to Peter (II Corinthians 12:11).
8. Peter was not infallible. He committed sin (cf. Galatians 2:11-14) as do all (Romans 3:23; Galatians 6:3; I John 1:8, 10)

I wonder if the apostle Peter would meet the criteria suggested that the cardinals are looking for? Somebody who agrees with them on their values and what they think of the vision of the church. Someone that they can have a personal relationship with, someone who would be their friend. Someone who will be accepted and liked. After all, consider the cardinals that live in countries with lots of Muslims. You don’t want the pope saying something that upsets Muslims. Peter would not meet these qualifications and certainly the Lord didn’t. Read Acts 1-12.