Bishop of Rome
Bishop of Rome is an ecclesiastical office and title of the popes and is often used in preference to Pope by some members of Eastern Orthodox and Protestant religious denominations to reflect a rejection of papal authority over the Christian community.
The Catholic tradition teaches that the Bishop of Rome is the successor of the Apostle Saint Peter and thus the "Vicar of Christ" for the entire world. This view is founded on the biblical verse Matthew 16:18. As Christ's Vicar, the Pope has jurisdiction over the entire Christian Church and supreme authority over all matters of faith and morals. Modern Roman Catholic doctrine concerning the Pope was authoritatively declared in the First Vatican Council (1870) in the Constitution "Pastor Aeternus".
In the Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Bishop of Rome is accorded historical title to "first among equals" among the overseers of the church, and "Supreme Patriarch of the Western Church". The view that the Bishop of Rome has primacy of honor also has unofficial currency in the Anglican communion and in a few other Protestant churches; however, by definition, no Protestant acknowledges the Papal title of "Supreme Head" or, "Patriarch of the Western Church".
See also
Pope, Holy See, Apostolic succession, Episcopalian, Bishop
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia: see under Pope and Vatican Council for the official viewpoint
