MSNBC News Services
Updated 8:52 a.m. CT, Tues., July 10, 2007

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

It restates key sections of a 2000 document the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, “Dominus Iesus,” which set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the “means of salvation.”

In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains, the Vatican repeated that position.

“Christ ‘established here on earth’ only one church,” the document said. The other communities “cannot be called ‘churches’ in the proper sense” because they do not have apostolic succession — the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ’s original apostles.

With this news release, Pope Benedict XVI, depicts a little of the Roman Catholic World View.

What happens to you when you die? Will you go to heaven or hell? The Pope, in the news release above, clearly states that if you are not a Roman Catholic your destination is hell.

What authority does the Pope have to make this statement? It is called “Papal primacy.”Papal primacy was established at the Council of Florence. This council was held at Florence (Firenze), Italy between the years 1431-35 AD.

What is Papal primacy? It is derived from what they teach is “apostolic succession.”The Roman Church claims apostolic succession from the Apostle Peter.The Roman Church also claims that the church was founded upon Peter and that he was the first pope.The scriptural basis of this claim is their interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-19 (ASV):

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying,Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said,Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Roman Church claims direct succession for the Pope from the Apostle Peter and all the powers that they claim Christ gave to Peter in the statement above.

In this Church of Christ the Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, to whom Christ entrusted the care of his sheep and his lambs, has been granted by God supreme, full, immediate and universal power in the care of souls. He is endowed with the primacy of power over all the churches (Vatican Council II,Volume 1, The Conciliar and the Post Conciliar Documents, Austin Flannery,O.P.).

The above statement from Vatican II is pretty comprehensive. Since their claim to the primacy of the Pope goes back to the 1400s, let’s look at some historical expressions of this power and then some theological assertions about final authority, which means “who is boss?” Before we do, however, consider the two following definitions. Keeping them in mind will help you understand the Roman Church’s World View.

What is papal primacy? Papal primacy is the concept that the bishop of Rome (the pope) is the universal pastor and supreme head of the Catholic Church. He has full, supreme, immediate, and universal jurisdictional authority to govern the church.This means that no bishop, synod, or council of bishops can override his authority. His teaching authority is defined as the doctrine of papal infallibility. His governing authority is contained in papal primacy.

What is papal infallibility? Papal infallibility is a dogma solemnly defined at the First Vatican Council (1869-1870).Vatican II in Lumen Gentium #25, Canon 749 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the Catechism #891 explain the doctrine:“By virtue of his office, the Roman Pontiff possesses infallibility in teaching when as the supreme pastor and teacher of all the Christian faithful, who strengthens his brothers, and sisters in the faith, he proclaims by definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held.”This charisma (gift) of infallibility is exercised only when the Pope issues an ex cathedra statement on faith and morals or when he proposes a teaching united with all the bishops of the world ( The Catholic Answer Book, Rev. John Trigilio Jr.,Th.d. & Rev.Kenneth Brighenti, Ph.d., pages 310-311)

You need to understand this “ex cathedra” issue. Anytime the Pope speaks “ex cathedra”they claim the Holy Spirit has hold of him and is dictating what he says. In the addendum of this book is a list of scurrilous popes, murderers, non-celibate men siring illegitimate children, admitted unbelievers,heretics, thieves,and even one pirate.These men and one woman lived sinful lives, but when they sat in the “chair” (ex cathedra), the Holy Spirit supposedly took control and the words of God came forth.This is abominable and a direct attack on the character and person of God.