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The primacy of the Roman pontiff is the apostolic authority of the bishop of Rome, from the Holy See, over the several churches that comprise the Catholic Church in the Latin and Eastern Rites. It is also termed "papal primacy", "primacy of Peter", *" target="_blank" >one might encounter "Peter in primacy over the universal Church," * and other related expressions. The present Eastern Orthodox churches, contrary to the teaching of, amongst others, Saint John Chrysostom, consider that the Bishop of Rome has a mere primacy of honor that, since the East-West Schism, is no longer in force. Most of them opt to give the primacy of honor to Constantinople's Patriarch instead.
Hierarchical church in first centuries
The Didache, dating from A.D. 70 – 140 deacons worthy of the Lord" (§15). Saint Clement, Pope *," target="_blank" >d. A.D. 101, wrote about the order with which Jesus commanded the affairs of the Church be conducted. The liturgies are "to be celebrated, and not carelessly nor in disorder," and the selection of persons was also "by His supreme will determined" (see God, Jesus, the apostles, and the orders given to the apostles, are "made in an orderly way". Jurgens states that Clement cites Isaiah 60:17 which in some translations includes "I will make thy visitation peace, and thy overseers justice" (emphasis added). In chapter 43 of the cited "Letter" Clement refers to the way "rivalry ... concerning the priesthood" was resolved by or through Moses, and in chapter 44, that likewise, the apostles "gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry." St. Ignatius of Antioch *," target="_blank" >d. A.D. 107, spoke in "praise of unity" in a Magnesians urging them "to yield him all reverence, having respect to the power of God the Father, ... submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all" (§3). In §6 he exhorts them to harmony, and in §13 urges them to "*tudy" target="_blank" >... to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, ... with your most admirable bishop...." Thus Ignatius emphasizes unity, obedience, and the hierarchical relationship among the faithful and between the bishop and God. Further elements of the hierarchical relationship are mentioned by St. Clement of Alexandria [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc4q.htm d. A.D. 217, referring to advice in the "holy books: some for presbyters, some for bishops and deacons" (Jurgens §413), and writing treatises with titles "On the Unity and Excellence of the Church" and "On the Offices of Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, and Widows." In his Stromateis Clement of Alexandria writes that "according to my opinion, the grades here in the Church, of bishops, presbyters, deacons, are imitations of the angelic glory, and of that economy which, the Scriptures say, awaits those who, following the footsteps of the apostles, have lived in perfection of righteousness according to the Gospel" (Ch. 13). Other references can be adduced to show that earliest belief held that the Church is hierarchical.
Church held to be hierarchical
Monarchical means having the nature of a monarch, i.e. "status or power comparable to" "a sole and absolute ruler of a state" (OED). Pope St. Cornelius d. A.D. 253, gave a detailed accounting of the structure of the Church at the time he was pope, and enquired in a seemingly rhetorical way, "antipope; Cornelius was emphasizing the need for recognition of one bishop, one head of the Church. *" target="_blank" >St. Cyprian of Carthage 258 spoke of "one God and one Christ, and one Church, and one Chair founded on Peter by the word of the Lord.... Whoever has gathered elsewhere is scattering" (Jurgens §573). St. Optatus *" target="_blank" >d. A.D. 385, who opposed the Donatists, clearly believed in a "Chair of Peter", calling it a gift of the Church and saying, as summarized by Henry Wace, that "Parmenian must be aware that the episcopal chair was conferred from the beginning on Peter, the chief of the apostles, that unity might be preserved among the rest and no one apostle set up a rival." [http://www.ccel.org/w/wace/biodict/htm/iii.xv.iii.htm "You cannot deny that you are aware that in the city of Rome the episcopal chair was given first to Peter; the chair in which Peter sat, the same who was head — that is why he is also called Cephas — of all the Apostles; the one chair in which unity is maintained by all. Neither do other Apostles proceed individually on their own; and anyone who would set up another chair in opposition to that single chair would, by that very fact, be a schismatic and a sinner" (Jurgens §1242). Other references can be adduced to show that earliest belief held that the Church is monarchical.
Unity of government in matters of faith. Unified government is an element of monarchical rule. St. Hegesippus (d. ca. A.D. 180) traced the succession of bishops from St. Peter, stating that "in the case of every succession, and in every city, the state of affairs is in accordance with the teaching of the Law and of the Prophets and of the Lord..." Irenaeus of Lyons *" target="_blank" >d. A.D. 202 emphasizes the relationship between faith, government, and harmony, writing that "the Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although scattered throughout the whole world, yet, as if occupying but one house, carefully preserves it. She also believes these points Against Heresies, Bk. I, Ch. 10, §2. He also emphasizes the use of the traditional understanding of the apostles to resolve conflicts: "Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question?" (ibid., Bk 3, Ch. 4, §1). Irenaeus warns that God "shall also judge those who give rise to schisms, ... and who look to their own special advantage rather than to the unity of the Church; ... *or" target="_blank" >no reformation of so great importance can be effected by them, as will compensate for the mischief arising from their schism." ([http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-62.htm#P8629_2440260 ibid., Bk. 4, Ch. 33, §7). St. Cyprian of Carthage in A.D. 252 directly equated Pope St. "Cornelius, our colleague" with the Catholic Church: "...that I should forward to Cornelius, our colleague, a copy of your letter, so that he might ... know immediately that you are in communion with him, that is, with the Catholic Church" (Jurgens §574a).
Primacy of Peter the apostle
- Main article: Primacy of Simon Peter.
Future expansions: How papal primacy was used over time, and how different ecclesial communions and faiths regard the doctrine. And more.
See also
Further reading
Books
- Schatz, Klaus. Papal Primacy: From Its Origins to the Present. (ISBN 081465522X)
Links
"Primacy of the Roman Pontiff"