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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA r 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.)