The Indefectibility of the Pope

ISBN: 1794551603

Author: Conte Jr., Ronald L.

Condition: New

This book proposes that each and every valid Roman Pontiff is preserved by the grace of God from certain errors and certain sins for the sake of the indefectibility of the Church and the salvation of souls. The Roman Pontiff is the Rock on which the Church is founded, not only by his office, but also in his person. Therefore, both the office and the person are protected from error and sin, from evil and corruption.What is the extent and limit of the protection given by God to the office and person of the Roman Pontiff? This book will answer the question by reference to Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the past teachings of the Magisterium. The book will consider examples from the history of the Popes, and will propose solutions to various problems, such as the claim that some Popes have taught heresy, or were corrupt persons.The primary answer to this question, though, is very simple. It is a matter of faith that God has done all that He ought to do in order to secure the salvation of souls through the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. If permitting a Pope to act in one way or another would cause the loss of the indefectibility of the Church, or the loss of a vast numbers of souls, we must conclude that God does not permit that act. God is all-powerful, and His grace can prevent any sin and any error. We must not assume, instead, that free will or sin are themselves the prevailing forces.Jesus Christ did not build a fragile Church. He did not design an Ark of Salvation that is unseaworthy. His Church is indestructible. His Ark of salvation is unsinkable. Even the gates of Hell cannot prevail over the Church. Therefore, Jesus prevents the Pope, the body of Bishops, and the Church from teaching grave error, and from any type of sin that would contradict the very purpose of the Church: to save souls.The protections given to the Roman Pontiff are also given to the body of Bishops, with the exception that they are protected from certain errors and certain sins only as a body, not as individuals. Jesus chose Twelve Apostles, not only one Apostle. Peter is the head of the Church, but also the head of the body of Bishops; he is not called to rule alone, but to rule above and with the other Apostles. The Pope is the successor of Peter, and the Bishops are the successors of the other Apostles.The author of this book is Ronald L. Conte Jr. He is the translator and editor of the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible. He has written dozens of books and booklets on Roman Catholic theology, including: ethics, salvation theology, Mariology, Biblical chronology, and eschatology.