Vol. I January 1999

What is the Pope's most basic task?

I. St. Peter's Importance

Jesus had already spent much time with St. Peter and the other Apostles. He had worked extraordinary miracles in their presence. He had cured the sick, given sight to the blind, opened the ears of the deaf, and cast out devils. He had also taught a doctrine that left His hearers in profound admiration. Undoubtedly people were wondering who Christ really was. He was well aware of this, and one day, maybe even catching his twelve closest friends off guard, asked them: "Who do men say that the Son of man is?". The Apostles responded: "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (Mt 16,13-14). Here we notice that there was confusion among the people. They were not certain as to whom Jesus truly was. He might be John or Elijah, or maybe one of the ancient prophets come back to life (cf. Lk 9,19). Jesus went on to ask another question, this time not asking what the people thought, but what the twelve thought: "But who do you say that I am?" It was Peter who answered: "You are the Christ the Son of the living God" (Mt 16,15-16). With these words St. Peter ended the confusion. With the people there was confusion, with St. Peter clarity. In the minds of ordinary folk there was doubt, in the soul of St. Peter there was certitude and truth.

Jesus went on to confirm that Peter had received a special grace from God the Father: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 16, 17). It was not that St. Peter had "figured out" the mystery of Christ. It was not as if he had sat down, and after much thought and discussion with the other Apostles, "solved the problem" as to whom Jesus really was. St. Peter was humble, he knew he could never fathom the mystery of Christ. He was therefore open to being taught by God. It was God the Father who had revealed to St. Peter the truth about Jesus, and St. Peter in turn manifested this truth in the presence of the other Apostles. Here we already begin to see that this Apostle had a special function in proclaiming the Truth about Christ and our salvation.

Without any doubt, Christ Himself was infallible. He was incapable of error. Being as truly God, as He was truly man, it was impossible for Christ to teach a false doctrine. He Himself affirmed: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14,6). Being the Truth, only truth could come forth from His mouth.

Let us now turn to an amazing little passage in the Gospel, a passage that we should read and ponder over (Mt 17,24-27): The collectors of the half-shekel temple tax approached Peter and asked whether or not Jesus paid the tax. Peter replied, "Yes". As he came into the house later that same day, Jesus asked him, "From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" Peter replied, "From others". Jesus went on to assure him that the sons, including Himself and His Apostles, need not pay the tax. However, to avoid giving scandal or offense to anyone, Jesus told Peter to go down to the sea and cast a hook. The first fish he would catch would have a shekel in its mouth. Jesus told Peter, "take that and give it to them for Me and for yourself". St. Peter was to find only one shekel in the mouth of the fish, a shekel which would serve to pay the tax of Christ and of Peter himself.

In this simple event we see how closely Christ wants to identify Peter with Himself. It is as if He were saying: "We are the one coin, my friend. He who accepts Me accepts you, he who rejects Me rejects you". By accepting the teaching of St. Peter, Christians would show that they truly accept that of Jesus Christ, by rejecting that of St. Peter, they also reject that of Christ.

II. Clearing Confusion

Let us start this second part with a simple question: Do we need a Peter today? Is there any less need for a clear voice who preaches the truth in season and out of season? Do we not all feel the need for someone to introduce truth and clarity in a society, and maybe even in the Church, where much doubt and confusion are present? We could look to many areas where there are contrary and contradictory opinions, but we will limit ourselves to the question of the Eucharist.

Let us consider the many different ways in which the words of Jesus, "This is my Body", have been, and still are, interpreted. There are those that think these words to be purely symbolical the bread remains bread but begins to symbolize the Body of Christ, Who is our spiritual food¹.

Others think that the bread continues being bread, but that the Real Body of Christ is present in and under this bread, and this, only during the Celebration of the Eucharist². And of course there are those who hold the true faith, which tells us that Christ, out of His Divine Generosity, has really given us His Body to eat. It is our spiritual food. The Holy Eucharist is the Risen Lord. The bread has stopped being bread, what was bread is now the True Body of Jesus Christ. The wine, likewise, has stopped being wine, it has become the true Blood of Christ. This is the truth. However, there has been, and there still is, a great variety of opinions on the true meaning of the words of Jesus. But as these opinions are contradictory only one of them can possibly be true. In his wonderful Profession of Faith, "The Credo of The People of God", it is Pope Paul VI who sets forth the true doctrine:

We believe that, as the bread and wine consecrated by the Lord at the Last Supper were changed into his Body and Blood which were to be offered for us on the Cross, so likewise are the bread and wine consecrated by the priest changed into the Body and Blood of Christ now enthroned in glory in heaven.³

III. But why the Bishop of Rome?

One may now ask: why is it that the Bishop of Rome has the last word? Why is it that he has the task of clearing confusion and setting forth the truth in unambiguous terms? The reason is simple. He is the successor of St. Peter, who was the first bishop of Rome. In was in Rome that he was martyred in the year 67 A.D. It was undoubtedly Christ's Will that he have a successor who would teach in His name. If Christ had not willed that St. Peter have a successor, He would have left the Church without orientation. Is it possible to think that Christ, Who promised to be with us until the end of time (cf. Mt. 28,20), could leave us, the members of His Church, without a voice that would alleviate doubt and remove confusion by explaining the truth of the Gospel in the clearest of terms? Such is not possible!

Christ, being God, knew that the Sacred Scriptures would not always be authentically interpreted. Christ was fully aware of the fact that after His ascension into heaven, and even after He had sent the Holy Spirit, there would be many false interpretations given to His Word. It is for this reason that He chose St. Peter, who was to feed His lambs and His sheep (cf. Jn 21,15.17) with a spiritual food that would be devoid of the poison of error. The threat of confusion, as we well know, and as Jesus Himself foresaw, would not evaporate after the death of St. Peter. It was for this reason that a successor was chosen to St. Peter. His name was St. Linus. He was followed by Saints Cletus and Clement. And as we well know the present successor of St. Peter is Pope John Paul II. It is he who now enjoys the extraordinary privilege and happy burden of ensuring that we, the followers of Christ, are never led astray by error, but can always have access to the Truth of the Gospel. It is for this reason that He is called Our Holy Father.

Just as the FATHER sent His SON, who is the Truth, into the world, likewise the Pope, constantly proclaims the truth of Christ. Just as the FATHER gave us Christ Who is our Bread from heaven, likewise Our Holy Father nourishes us with the bread of sound doctrine.

In summary we can say that the most basic service of the Pope is to proclaim and protect the purity of the faith.

May God Bless and protect Our Holy Father.

¹The doctrine of Zwingli and his followers.

²The doctrine of Luther.

³Pope Paul VI, "The Credo of the People of God", 30 of June 1968.

⁴Liturgy of February 22nd.