Pope

Jesus called His heavenly Father Abba, the Hebrew and Aramaic word for papa or daddy, a child’s way of referring to his own father.

The pope is the visible head of the Catholic Church. Pope comes from the Greek pappas, a child’s word for “father,” also more accurately papa or daddy, because his authority is supreme, and because his authority is as the Church’s loving father, after the relationship between Christ and His Father in heaven.

Jesus told his prodigal son Peter, Jn 21:15 “Feed My lambs … Tend My sheep … Feed My sheep.” Jesus had earlier said, Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd.” By directing that Peter become the good shepherd, Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, ordaining his office and primacy. Peter became Christ’s vicar, or personal representative, on earth. Peter’s prestige as the head apostle was so great that people Acts 5:15 “… carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”

Each pope is the successor of Peter, and therefore speaks with Christ’s own authority as His vicar on earth. Jesus said, Jn 8:28 “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me.” So, too, the Church does nothing on its own authority, but speaks only as the pope teaches and directs.

Jesus told His apostles, and by extension their successors, Mt 10:40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” That authority has crossed the centuries in a continuing line of apostolic succession. Every Catholic bishop, priest, and deacon was ordained by a bishop who was ordained by a bishop who was ordained by a bishop … who was personally ordained by Jesus Himself.

”Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who accept all the means of salvation given to the Church … through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops.”

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Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 1897-1904, 2238, 2242