The Church and the
Papacy
Excerpts from Église et papauté by Cardinal Yves Congar
Translation by Amy Coleman amy@aacoleman.com
The pope is
the Bishop of Rome. This title is, without a doubt, his primary
title. It is the title recognized by the Orthodox Church, who add
that he is the leader of the Conference of Bishops. The Roman
Catholic stance implies more. The successor of Peter is more than an
ordinary bishop, he is the first among equals – primus inter pares.
As acknowledged by the First Vatican Council, the prerogatives of
the pope - supreme jurisdiction over the entire Roman Catholic
Church and the infallibility of certain actions within his
magisterium - are still situated within the framework of the title
of “Successor of Peter”, but exceed the position of head bishop. The
pope is a member of the College of Bishops, but he is the leader of
God’s Church on earth. Peter is one of the Twelve, but among them he
alone received a unique calling.
This fact was supported by Pope Innocent III, in particular, who cited the constancy with which Jesus gave, first to Peter alone, that which he then gave to each of the Twelve, including Peter:
The Apostles are the foundation (Ep 2:20; Rv 21:14);
Peter is the cornerstone (Mt 16:18);
The Apostles are pastors (Ac 20:28; 1P 5:2);
Peter is the pastor of the universal church (Jn 21:15-17);
The Apostles hold the keys - the power to bind and to loose (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:23);
Peter alone received this power, as well (Mt 16:19);
The Apostles are the witnesses to the risen Christ (Ac 1:8);
Peter was the first Apostle to witness the resurrection ( 1Co 15:5; Lk 24:34);
Jesus prayed for all of the Apostles (Jn 17:9, 20);
Jesus also prayed specifically for Peter, so that he, in turn, would be able to strengthen the other Apostles (Lk 22:32).
Peter appears to personify two distinct natures. He is one of the Twelve Apostles and he is and has what the others are and have; however, he personally received these gifts in a way that distinguishes him or sets him apart from the others. He will be not only the foundation, he will be the rock and he will have the responsibility of the universal church. He will not only be a believer and a witness, he will strengthen the faith.
Peter is mentioned 114 times in the Gospels and 57 times in the Acts of the Apostles. St. John, who is the most recognized after Peter, is referred to 38 times in the Gospels and 6 times in Acts. Peter often represents the Apostles and the church, as seen in Mt 17:24-27, Mk 14:26-31, 34, 37 and Lk 5:4-11. Peter frequently asks questions posed by the disciples, as in Mt 18:21, Lk 12:41, Mk 10:28. Jesus also addresses questions posed by the others to Peter (Mk 7:17, Mt 15:15, Mt 21:20, Mk 11:21). Outsiders address Peter as the representative of the group (Mt 17:24) and sometimes the other Apostles are referred to as “those who are with Peter” (Mk 1:36, Lk 8:45, 9:32, Ac 2:14, 5:21, and the short conclusion of Mark. Although he is a part of the group of Twelve, Peter is often mentioned individually (Mk 16:7, Ac 2:14, 37, 5:29, 1Co 9:5). He receives the full range of titles that will also be given to the others. All of this signifies that Peter performs the functions of representation and initiation in the Apostolic College. He presides, he stands up and he speaks (Ac 11:15, 2:14, 15:7). It is his words that bear witness (Ac 2:41). When Ananias and Sapphira present part of their assets “to the apostles” (Ac 5:2), it is Peter who strikes them dead. Although “many signs and wonders” are performed by the Apostles in Acts, it is Peter who is sought by the crowds (Ac 5:15). It is Peter, as well, who the Holy Spirit moved to open the door of the church to the pagans for the first time and when discussed during a synod, after a long debate, Peter spoke and “the entire assembly fell silent” (Ac 15:7, 12). […]
The leadership of Paul must be added to any discussion of the influence of Peter on the origination of the Roman Catholic Church and its primacy. In his most solemn actions, such as the convocation of a council, canonization or a definition of church dogma, the pope represents “the authority of the Apostles Peter and Paul”. Paul is concerned with all of the churches, the Word of God, the teachings and the pursuit of the communion of the pagan churches with that of Jerusalem financially. In comparing the patronage of Paul to that of Peter, the theologians attribute the doctrine to Paul and the governing authority to Peter. Adding Paul, who Father E.B. Allo has called “the first after the Priceless”, to Peter, the rock, fulfills this providential configuration.
Excerpts from Église et papauté by Cardinal Yves Congar
Translation by Amy Coleman amy@aacoleman.com
The pope is
the Bishop of Rome. This title is, without a doubt, his primary
title. It is the title recognized by the Orthodox Church, who add
that he is the leader of the Conference of Bishops. The Roman
Catholic stance implies more. The successor of Peter is more than an
ordinary bishop, he is the first among equals – primus inter pares.
As acknowledged by the First Vatican Council, the prerogatives of
the pope - supreme jurisdiction over the entire Roman Catholic
Church and the infallibility of certain actions within his
magisterium - are still situated within the framework of the title
of “Successor of Peter”, but exceed the position of head bishop. The
pope is a member of the College of Bishops, but he is the leader of
God’s Church on earth. Peter is one of the Twelve, but among them he
alone received a unique calling. This fact was supported by Pope Innocent III, in particular, who cited the constancy with which Jesus gave, first to Peter alone, that which he then gave to each of the Twelve, including Peter:
The Apostles are the foundation (Ep 2:20; Rv 21:14);
Peter is the cornerstone (Mt 16:18);
The Apostles are pastors (Ac 20:28; 1P 5:2);
Peter is the pastor of the universal church (Jn 21:15-17);
The Apostles hold the keys - the power to bind and to loose (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:23);
Peter alone received this power, as well (Mt 16:19);
The Apostles are the witnesses to the risen Christ (Ac 1:8);
Peter was the first Apostle to witness the resurrection ( 1Co 15:5; Lk 24:34);
Jesus prayed for all of the Apostles (Jn 17:9, 20);
Jesus also prayed specifically for Peter, so that he, in turn, would be able to strengthen the other Apostles (Lk 22:32).
Peter appears to personify two distinct natures. He is one of the Twelve Apostles and he is and has what the others are and have; however, he personally received these gifts in a way that distinguishes him or sets him apart from the others. He will be not only the foundation, he will be the rock and he will have the responsibility of the universal church. He will not only be a believer and a witness, he will strengthen the faith.
Peter is mentioned 114 times in the Gospels and 57 times in the Acts of the Apostles. St. John, who is the most recognized after Peter, is referred to 38 times in the Gospels and 6 times in Acts. Peter often represents the Apostles and the church, as seen in Mt 17:24-27, Mk 14:26-31, 34, 37 and Lk 5:4-11. Peter frequently asks questions posed by the disciples, as in Mt 18:21, Lk 12:41, Mk 10:28. Jesus also addresses questions posed by the others to Peter (Mk 7:17, Mt 15:15, Mt 21:20, Mk 11:21). Outsiders address Peter as the representative of the group (Mt 17:24) and sometimes the other Apostles are referred to as “those who are with Peter” (Mk 1:36, Lk 8:45, 9:32, Ac 2:14, 5:21, and the short conclusion of Mark. Although he is a part of the group of Twelve, Peter is often mentioned individually (Mk 16:7, Ac 2:14, 37, 5:29, 1Co 9:5). He receives the full range of titles that will also be given to the others. All of this signifies that Peter performs the functions of representation and initiation in the Apostolic College. He presides, he stands up and he speaks (Ac 11:15, 2:14, 15:7). It is his words that bear witness (Ac 2:41). When Ananias and Sapphira present part of their assets “to the apostles” (Ac 5:2), it is Peter who strikes them dead. Although “many signs and wonders” are performed by the Apostles in Acts, it is Peter who is sought by the crowds (Ac 5:15). It is Peter, as well, who the Holy Spirit moved to open the door of the church to the pagans for the first time and when discussed during a synod, after a long debate, Peter spoke and “the entire assembly fell silent” (Ac 15:7, 12). […]
The leadership of Paul must be added to any discussion of the influence of Peter on the origination of the Roman Catholic Church and its primacy. In his most solemn actions, such as the convocation of a council, canonization or a definition of church dogma, the pope represents “the authority of the Apostles Peter and Paul”. Paul is concerned with all of the churches, the Word of God, the teachings and the pursuit of the communion of the pagan churches with that of Jerusalem financially. In comparing the patronage of Paul to that of Peter, the theologians attribute the doctrine to Paul and the governing authority to Peter. Adding Paul, who Father E.B. Allo has called “the first after the Priceless”, to Peter, the rock, fulfills this providential configuration.
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