At last the Roman bishop, on the ground of his divine institution, and as successor of Peter, the prince of the apostles, advanced his claim to be primate of the entire church, and visible representative of Christ, who is the invisible supreme head of the Christian world. This is the strict and exclusive sense of the title, Pope.¹

regory the Great (540 – 604) is often called the first of the medieval popes. He increased the authority and power of the papacy (or office of the pope). Gregory held that the Roman pope was the apostle Peter’s sole successor and on that claim possessed highest authority over all Christians. But Peter was not the head of the apostles and the church, nor were the bishops the apostles’ successors. Therefore, the pope is not Peter’s successor.

Again, the liberating light of the gospel was being left behind while new man-made arrangements were being constructed in the name of Christianity. The abuse of self-appointed papal authority would take a serious toll on non-conforming Christians and the Church at large. Departure from God’s word means entrance into darkness.

Back   Next