The Importance of the PapacyGertautas Urbonavicius
Importance of the Papacy
Jesus said to St. Peter that “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. The rise of the papacy helped to create a powerful Catholic Church.
Defending the Primacy of the Pope
Pope Leo the Great used biblical, historical, and legal arguments to assert the primacy of the pope among all bishops. The Council of Florence, the Fifth Lateran Council, the First Vatican Council also reaffirmed papal primacy.
The Primacy of Peter
It seems certain that Jesus is granting Peter a unique authority over the Church. Papal primacy has origins directly from Christ’s commissioning of Peter to be the visible head of the Church.
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council taught on the primacy of the pope. A difference was that the Second Vatican Council began its teaching first on the ministry of the bishops and then addressed the pope in relationship to the bishops.
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