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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
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CATHOLICS AND THE POPE
The following questions and answers on the Pope
are taken from a pamphlet issued by the Catholic
Laymen’s Association of Georgia. Copies of the
pamphlet will be mailed free to any address on re
quest :
“Will you tell me who the Pope is and how he gets
to be Pope?”
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of
St. Peter, and head of the Catholic Church on earth.
St. Peter was appointed to this office by our Lord
Himself. The Church elects his successor. He is
elected directly by the College of Cardinals who,
when a Pope dies, assemble from all parts of the
world and closet themselves together until by secret
ballot they elect his successor.
“Who can be elected Pope?”
Any Catholic man living. There are no restric
tions or qualifications in respect of class, race or
nationality.
“I have been told that the College of Cardinals
must always select one of themselves Pope. Is this
correct?”
It is not correct. Many Popes were never Car
dinals. Any bishop, any priest? may be selected.
Laymen even have been elected, although it is, of
course, necessary that one receive Orders before as
suming office, since the Pope is Bishop of Rome.
Is there not an unwritten law that the Pope must
be an Italian?”
No ; several Popes in succession, including the
present Pontiff, have been Italians; but there is no
law or other requirement, written or unwritten, to
this effect. There have been German, French, Span
ish, Dutch, English, Grek, Hebrew Popes.
“Is it not required that Italians shall always be in
the majority in the College of Cardinals?”
No, there is not any requirement of this kind;
neither do the Italians always have a majority in the
College. As this is being written (June 1920), the
Italians are in the minority.
“The Pope selects the Cardinals and the Cardinals
select the Pope: Is not this a vicious circle?”
It is not a circle, for two main reasons: first, the
Pope is elected for life; and secondly, he is a celibate;
therefore, the Cardinals are never called upon to select
the man who selected them, nor has he any descend
ants for them to select to succeed him. And it is not
vicious because the Pope is supreme and the Cardinals
can do nothing for him that he could not do for him
self without them. The considerations for the Cardi
nal's appointment, therefore, are as free from taint of
personal interest as it is possible for any human action
to be.
“Is the Pope in any sense divine?”
No, not in any sense.
“Is he in any way a descendant of Christ?” No,
not in any way.
“Is he inspired?” No.
“Has he the gift of prophecy?” No.
“Does God reveal new truths to him?” No.
‘‘Does he claim to be God?” No.
“Is he subject to any law?”
Yes; as a person he is subject to the laws that bind
Jill other Catholics; as a priest he is subject to the
laws that govern other priests; as a Sovereign he is
subject to the laws that bind other Sovereigns; as
Pope he is subject to the chart and constitution of
the Church; always, he must observe the will of God,
the laws of nature and the dictates of humanity. He
is Sovereign, but not Autocrat; his authority is
neither arbitrary nor irresponsible and its exercise
must be reasonable and just, with charity towards all
and malice towards none.
“Why is the Pope bound to obey the law when he
makes the law?”
He does not make the law; he declares the law.
God alone is Author of law, whether it be declared
by ecclesiastical or civil legislators. The Pope is law
maker or law-giver in the Church in the same sense
that civil legislators are law-makers or law-givers in
the State. If you can understand why civil legisla
tors are bound to obey the laws they declare, you
know why the Pope is likewise bound to obey the
laws declared by him. He does not cease to be a
person when he becomes Pope. And there is none
absolute but God.
“Can he commit sin?”
Yes, like every other person, the Pope can com
mit sin.
“Can he forgive sin?”
“Yes, like every other priest of God, the Pope,
through the Sacrament of Penance, can forgive the
sins of one who, having examined his conscience,
confesses his sins, is sorry for having committed them
and resolved not to sin again.
“Who can forgive the Pope’s sins?”
Any Catholic priest to whom he confesses his sins
in the tribunal of Penance (the Pope goes to con
fession regularly to some priest, as do all other bish
ops and priests of the Catholic Church, the same as
the Catholic laity).
“Does the Pope claim the right to temporal rule
over the world?” No.
“What authority does he claim?”
He is the successor of St. Peter and as such has
the authority that Christ conferred upon Peter; he
claims no more.
“St. Peter could speak in divers tongues and. work
miracles; can the Pope?”
No, those were special gifts, personal to St. Peter
(or to whomsoever given). Authority is a different
matter; it pertains to the office, not the person. In
succeeding to the office one succeeds to the authority
of the office, not to the personal qualities or gifts of a
prior incumbent.
“Is the Pope’s authority in any way limited?”
Yes, first in its nature; it is essentially moral. Sec
ond, in its extent; it extends to those things only
which inhere in the teachings of Christ. Third, in its
exercise; the Pope is human, and every human pre
caution calculated to avoid either excess or abuse,
must be observed. In fine, the Pope’s authority is
defined and limited by the constitution of the Church.
“Where-does he get his authority?”
From his office as instituted by Jesus Christ when
He appointed St. Peter. Jesus Christ is God; hence
the Pope, through his office derives authority from
God. In the same way, though less directly, the
President gets authority from his office as instituted
by the people, who have authority from God; hence
the President, through the people, derives authority
from God. Wherefore, the Scriptures: “There is
no power but from God; the powers that be are or
dained of God.’’ (Romans 13.)