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Home , Papal infallibility, Pope Benedict XV, Pope John Paul I

His successor, Paul VI (1963-1978), faced the heavy task of guiding the through POPE BENEDICT troubled times and implementing changes to the XVI way the Church presented herself. The times were not favourable to reasoned, gentle discussion, In a remarkably quick election, the cardinals and Pope Paul, a deeply sensitive man, suffered made an inspired choice to succeed the beloved great distress at the disruption which appeared Pope John Paul. His close friend and helper for almost everywhere. Nevertheless, he was a many years, Cardinal Ratzinger was already man of great courage and rose to the challenge famous as a courageous and learned defender of the times. Pope Paul was the first Pope to of the in troubled times. As a German from undertake extensive overseas visits, bringing Bavaria, Joseph Ratzinger had seen the universal Church into closer contact with its the Nazi savagery at close hand and knew that faithful around the world. In 1970 he became the , the mother and guardian the first Pope to visit Australia. He reformed of Christian civilisation, alone had the capacity the Roman administration and the structures of to withstand the corrosive effects of organised prayer throughout the Church. evil. Pope Paul was followed for only 33 days in 1978 As soon as the war ended he entered the by , who will be remembered and was ordained a priest in 1951. for his friendly smile and his down-to-earth As a brilliant theologian he taught throughout homilies, filled with examples from ordinary life. for many years before being chosen as of Munich and Freising in 1977 and as cardinal a few months later. In 1981 Pope immense popularity and prestige of the papacy John Paul called him to to lead the crucial under this Pope. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Church's body which ensures the clarity of the As a world leader and as a spiritual father, Pope -6, LA r Catholic Faith. It was a great choice. Few people Benedict exhibits a great combination of deep vR understood both the Faith and the modern world piety, learning and Christian gentleness. Above as well as he. In that role he had a heavy task all he is a humble servant of , conscious ES1A RV of bringing the richness of Catholic Faith and of the great office that has been entrusted to CA' thought to the confusion of modern theories of him. The Papal office can be a lonely task, and life and religion. This delicate task was carried an immense weight, but the prayerful support out with courage, but also with great kindness of the Christian peoples and the assistance of and courtesy. the Holy Spirit bear this remarkable succession of men through all the turmoil the world has to Since becoming Pope Benedict XVI, he has direct at them. For our part, we can be thankful delighted the world with his beautiful writings that God has given us such a shepherd in our and speeches. He has continued the apostolic times, to help us all on our way to heaven. visits of his predecessor, but at a reduced rate. In encouraging Catholics to rediscover the beauties of their tradition and culture, Pope Benedict has given a powerful impulse to the rebirth of Catholicism in an increasingly secularist age. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

"The Pope, Bishop What aspect of the papacy struck of Rome and Peter's you most from this article? Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) appeared before an astonished world, fearless and inspiring, to successor, is the perpetual 2. Why is important for the bring new vigour to the Faith in the modern world. Church? As the first non-Italian Pope for 455 years, he and visible source and had known the grim cruelties of Nazi occupation 3. Which Pope of modern times has in his beloved Poland and had suffered under foundation of the unity helped you the most in your Christian a communist dictatorship which sought to life? exterminate religion. This and other influences both of the bishops and made him a great defender of the dignity of the of the whole company of 4. What are some ways we can help human person. He was relentless in his defence the Pope in his difficult mission of of human rights, especially in life and family the faithful: ccc 882 governing the Church? issues, which became such a pressing concern towards the end of the twentieth century. Pope John Paul brought the message of the Church to Astonishingly, for a man of the Pope's reserved the modern world in dramatically modern ways and quiet nature, the reaction of the world to Fr Anthony Robbie has a Licentiate through his addresses, his encouragement of him has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Greater crowds are turning out in Rome to see in Church History from the Pontifical reform movements in the Church and through Gregorian University in Rome. He his tireless apostolic visits, which took him all him than came to see Pope John Paul II. His writings are closely read, his speeches are lectures in Church History in various over the world. It was he who began World Youth r Days. When he died, millions travelled to Rome listened to and he is particularly popular with tertiary institutes and is Priest of St for his funeral, which saw an unprecedented the young. His recent pastoral visit to the United Dominic's, Flemington, in Sydney. collection of world leaders in attendance to pay States was a resounding success where even him tribute. jaded commentators had to acknowledge the Photocopying Prohibited

Published six times a year, INFORM is available from: INFORM - 50c per copy (minimum order: 10 copies per Locked Bag 888 Silverwater DC NSW 1811 issue) Single subscription $10 per year within Australia, 6 P (02) 9643 3660 F (02) 9643 3669 issues annually, or with the newsletter of the Catholic Adult Everyone knows that the Pope is the visible head of the Church. But what is the origin of the CA HOLIC Education Centre $15 per year. Single copy of every back E [email protected] ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE papacy, what powers does the Pope have, and who have been some of the great Ropes of history? tta T. issue of INFORM still in print - $40 per set. C I EDITOR Fr John Flade Fr Anthony Robbie answers these and many more questions. Front Image courtesy of Romantic Catholic. USA. SET 153 nii 1111F The Pope has full, direct and immediate power Catholics look upon the Pope as the head of the challenge for which the Lord had prepared Church on earth. We say "on earth' because the him. In the we see him at head of the Church is, of course, Christ the forefront of the life of the early Church. He over the whole Church throughout the world... himself. After our Lord ascended into heaven, leads the apostles around, he performs the first he did not leave the little band of his followers , he speaks on their behalf, he makes Nevertheless, his power is not unlimited and leaderless. He had already singled out one decisions for them, he is mentioned first in every of them and gave him a special dignity and a list of them in the . special commission. This was Simon Bar Jona, it is exercised in a spirit of service, as a good Right from the start he was exercising that role a fisherman of Galilee, a quite ordinary man in of leadership which has always characterised every respect. Simon had just confessed that the . St Peter, like most of the apostles, shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, Jesus was the Son of the living God" and Jesus spread the Faith far beyond the Holy Land. In his replied to him: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar case, he went not to another province, but to the or as the father of a family. Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this very heart and capital of the empire itself, Rome, to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell and there he established the Church, as its first Pope Pius XII you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my bishop. His successors in that role, inheriting his church, and the powers of death shall not prevail authority and the promise of Christ, have carried papacy, responding to the needs of the modern against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom PAPAL INSIGNIA joy of the crowd when it was announced that the on the same work in unbroken succession until Church had a Pope again, that the family had its world in fields such as education, social care of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall The Pope traditionally wears a white cassock the current day. father restored. and evangelisation. be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on or soutane. On his right hand he wears the earth shall be loosed in heaven"(Ml16:17-20). vr, fisherman's ring with which he seals documents. THE OFFICE OF A symbol of his authority, it evokes St Peter the THE POPES OF MODERN POPES begun by Pope St Gregory the Great at the end fisherman. Over his he wears PETER THE ROCK THE POPE of the sixth century, the Pope has the of the , a white woolen band around the HISTORY The Church in recent times has been blessed with a remarkable series of Popes who have This was an extraordinary grant of authority, There are very many bishops throughout "servant of the servants of God". Like Christ, he neck that hangs down in front and in back, with From the time of St Peter the Popes have almost is in the Church as one who serves (cf. Lk 22:27). weathered some of the fiercest cultural and and an unforgettable promise which must have the Church, but only the Bishop of Rome is six crosses embroidered on it. It is a symbol of his always resided in Rome, from where they have The generous spirit of self-giving, of complete political storms of history and guided the Church amazed the other apostles. St Peter, a poor the successor of St Peter as the head of the universal authority. Pope Benedict has revived a governed the universal Church. Under the dedication to the Church, of Pope John Paul II safely through them. Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) weak man would himself become a rock (the Church and the . "Vicar" means of pallium used 1,500 years ago when the Roman empire many were martyred for the and now of Pope Benedict XVI is known to all. was a diplomat by training who bore the heavy name "Peter" is a Greek translation of "Cephas", "representative" and so the Pope is the direct Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches were Faith and are ranked among the canonised representative of Christ on earth. This is a heavy weight of his flock divided and threatened by the Aramaic for "rode). At another time Jesus had The Pope is also the servant of the Catholic still united. . Appeals for judgment came to them from burden, of course, for the Pope is only a man, Second World War. He worked hard to protect compared building a house on sand to building Faith; he is not its master. He cannot change or all over the Christian world in the early centuries with no divine powers, but he is protected and The pallium is granted also to to the suffering victims of the war, organising relief on rock (cr. Kir 7:24-27). The firm foundation means remake anything that is a de fide or revealed truth. and they were often called upon to settle blessed by Christ. When he took him from his old symbolise their authority (granted by the Pope) efforts and concealing the persecuted. He is it cannot be shaken or fall. Christ's edifice His authority is limited to the Faith and to those disputes and distinguish the Christian Faith life and gave him a new vocation, our Lord gave over the dioceses in their region and their union credited with having personally saved 600,000 in this world, the Church, would be given a administrative matters which are necessary for from countless heresies. "Peter has spoken Simon a new name: Peter. For many centuries with the Pope. The Pope, unlike other bishops, Jews from death during the war. At the end of similarly solid foundation — Peter himself — and the running of the Church. He has no temporal through Leo", cried the assembled bishops at Popes have taken a new name at their election, carries a cross in place of the shepherd's crook the war the chief rabbi of Rome converted to sure enough, it has not fallen in all these many authority given by Christ, no political power, and the in 451 when St Leo in memory of St Peter and to signify their new or , the traditional tool of the shepherd. Catholicism, taking the Pope's baptismal name centuries. Against heresy and , in the he cannot alter the or the , nor the Great's theological judgment was read out. It identity. Often the choice of name indicates as his own, so moved was he by the heroic efforts face of tyrants and dictators, the Church stands change the divine constitution of the Church. He was accepted immediately and unanimously as respect for one or more of the other holders of of Pope Pius to defend the Jewish people. After firm and independent, and all because of the is the Church's defender, not its master. Finally, THE ELECTION OF the faith of the Church. that name, or a wish to associate oneself with the the war Pope Pius continued as a great teacher, firmness of her head and foundation. it should be remembered that the Church has spiritual efforts of a predecessor. Pope Benedict THE POPE Sometimes the Popes have had to be great issuing letters which were widely read no police force. It relies upon the respect and administrators, like St Gregory the Great (590- Jesus promised to give Peter the keys of XVI, for example, has spoken of his respect for The attention of the whole world was fixed on and deeply influential in the cooperation of faith fidelity of its faithful. 604), who was called upon to govern Rome the kingdom of heaven, which refers to the Pope Benedict XV, the peacemaker Pope of the Rome in 2005 when Pope John Paul II died and and the modern world. when the civil power collapsed. A veritable Church. Both at that time and today people First World War, as well as for St Benedict of As is well known, the the process of the election of his successor powerhouse of energy, he reformed the liturgy The all too brief reign of Blessed Pope John have understood the holder of the keys as Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order and, (1869-1870) declared the infallibility of the Pope. began. The system of electing a Pope is quite XXIII (1958-1963) brought great joy to many having authority over the household. He is its ( is named after him), wrote in a sense, the founder of European Christian By infallibility we mean that on matters of faith ancient and is the result of much careful thought hearts. While the world had revered the guardian and custodian. The power given to him pastoral sermons of enduring value and sent civilisation. and morals, when the Pope speaks ex , and practice. The role of choosing a Pope falls grandeur and dignity of Pope Pius, it now saw is of "loosing" and "binding" — he has authority to or literally "from the " of St Peter, in a missionaries abroad. It was he who sent St The Pope has full, direct and immediate power to the , who are appointed the charm and simple happiness of Pope John, issue orders for those in his care on earth. The manner solemnly defining a doctrine for the Augustine of Canterbury to England. over the whole Church throughout the world. by the Pope and are his closest advisers. When and it responded with great love. In a thousand Pope's authority is in the name of Christ and by whole Church, he cannot be in error and his His , whether administrative or doctrinal the Pope dies the cardinals are summoned With the dawning of the Middle Ages the little ways, Pope John delighted people with his his permission. word is taken as absolute. It should be noted that are binding on the consciences of all Catholics. to Rome, where they spend several days in prestige and responsibilities of the Popes visits to hospitals and prisons, with his frequent does not refer to administrative During the Lord's earthly life St Peter stayed There is no appeal against a of the Pope prayer for the deceased Pope and for their own grew ever greater. All Christendom looked to good natured jokes and with the humble piety decisions, nor to theological opinions, the close to him, hanging upon his words and himself, since he is personally the ultimate guidance in choosing his successor. Eventually, a common spiritual father and the Mass of the which encouraged many to see that holiness content of homilies, casual remarks to friends, witnessing extraordinary scenes (such as the court of appeal in this world. He is the Supreme they are locked away in private, cut off from city of Rome became the standard form for all was within their reach. He called the Second etc. The power is rarely exercised, but it is Transfiguration), which not all the apostles teacher and governor of the Church and all other all outside influences, including telephone and the western lands, out of respect for the Vicar of Vatican Council to help the Church face the necessary so that the teachings of Christ may saw. It was after the Lord's departure from this authority must be exercised in submission to his news services, so that their decision may be Christ, whose Mass it was. Such uniformity and circumstances of the modern world, but sadly be passed on faithfully down the ages and the world, however, that St Peter really rose to the own. entirely free and independent. The seclusion agreement was not to last long. died soon after it began. faith of Christians may be firmly established. of the cardinals for the election is called the Nevertheless, his power is not unlimited and The bishops of the Church exercise their own "conclave", which means literally "with a key". With the Protestant revolt of the sixteenth it is exercised in a spirit of service, as a good authority together with the Pope and never apart century the Popes were singled out for particular shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, from him. (cf. Vatican Council II, Dogm. Const. The election of the new Pope takes place in the assault. Their independent position as a sort of or as the father of a family. Following a tradition , 25) magnificent setting of the , with appeal court from local princes was repudiated the glorious account of the Creation covering in nation after nation. responded the vault and the famous Last Judgment of by excommunicating Martin Luther as a heretic Michelangelo looking down upon the electors but it took many years for the Church under "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona, for flesh and blood — certainly something to focus the mind! The the inspiration of heroic Popes like St Pius V to cardinals vote successively, with four ballots mount a vigorous reform process and win back has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in each day, until a candidate receives two thirds many lost souls. plus one of the votes cast. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I Then the one elected is approached and asked the Popes began to confront a new tyrannical if he will accept. If he says yes, the Church godlessness which went hand in hand with will build my church, and the powers of death shall not has a new Pope and the cardinals proceed to political despotism. Napoleon Bonaparte congratulate him and ask his blessing. He then imprisoned Popes Pius VI and Pius VII and prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom vests in the white robes of the Pope for the first stole Church property across Europe. Later, time and appears on the balcony of St Peter's The Popes suffered the loss of the Papal of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be Basilica to give his blessing to the vast crowds States, a great area of central that they who have waited patiently for the moment. had governed for over a thousand years. These bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall Those watching in 2005 observed the immense losses, however, led to a renewed and spiritual

be loosed in heaven"(Mt 16:17-20). Photocopying Prohibited