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Catholicism
Catholicism · Intermediate

Peter and the Papacy

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Christ made Peter the rock and head of the church, that the bishops of Rome succeed him as the Vicar of Christ, and that the pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra. Scripture shows Peter as a faithful apostle and fellow elder, Christ as the church's only foundation and head, and the Word as the only infallible rule.

The lesson walks through the topic one card at a time. The full study is the complete written article, with its sources.

What you'll learn
1

State Rome's claims for Peter and the pope from the Catechism and Vatican I's Pastor Aeternus

2

Read Matthew 16:13-19 in context, including petros and petra and the keys

3

Explain what the title Vicar of Christ means, where it came from, and why the Holy Spirit is the One Christ sent in His place

4

Explain what ex cathedra means, how the definition was contested in 1870, and why only Scripture is infallible

5

Show from Scripture that Peter was a fellow elder and that Christ alone is the head of the church

Lessons in this topic