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Jesus did not say, "''Call no man on earth, 'father' ''". See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/23-9.htm interlinear English and Greek text] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm ''multiple commentaries on'' Matthew 23:9]. Jesus does not say, "Do not be '''called''' fathers". In verse 10, he says, "''Neither be '''called''' masters''".  

Jesus did not say, "''Call no man on earth, 'father' ''". See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/23-9.htm interlinear English and Greek text] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm ''multiple commentaries on'' Matthew 23:9]. Jesus does not say, "Do not be '''called''' fathers". In verse 10, he says, "''Neither be '''called''' masters''".  

The meaning of this text within the historical and cultural context of first century Judea is that no male parent is to be regarded as the true father of any son or daughter naturally sired by him as middle eastern cultural tradition taught each child to regard him—with absolute claim to their personal loyalty and obedience, above and apart from any other consideration of affection, respect, duty and reverence they might owe to another, to mother or sibling or spouse or children or friend or comrade-in-arms or teacher or commander or king or country, or even life itself. Students who came to regard their teachers and rabbis with reverent affection and loyalty, even awe, for imparting the knowledge of Torah to them, were traditionally encouraged to address them as "my father" and to regard them as their spiritual fathers. Jesus is setting them free of the tradition of unquestioning imitation of those abusers of legitimate Jewish authority who set aside the substance of the teaching of Moses and the scriptures for the sake of their own self-promoting customs and ritual traditions.

The meaning of this text within the historical and cultural context of first century Judea is that no male parent is to be regarded as the true father of any son or daughter naturally sired by him, as middle eastern cultural tradition taught each child to regard him—with an absolute claim to personal loyalty and obedience, above and apart from any other consideration of affection, respect, duty and reverence they might owe to another, to mother or sibling or spouse or children or friend or comrade-in-arms or teacher or commander or king or country, or even life itself.  

 

Students who came to regard their teachers and rabbis with reverent affection and loyalty, even awe, for imparting the knowledge of [[Torah]] to them, were traditionally encouraged to address them as "my father" and to regard them as their spiritual fathers. Jesus is setting them free of the tradition of unquestioning imitation of those abusers of legitimate Jewish authority, who set aside the substance of the teaching of Moses and the scriptures for the sake of their own self-promoting customs and ritual traditions.

This text in Matthew has been cited as condemning any use of the word "father" as an address or title of respect to any man, as if it said, "''Call no man on earth, 'father'...''". However, against this defective reading of the meaning of the text, and apart from the fact that a word has been ''removed'' by such a reading (interpretation) of the text, multiple passages in sacred scripture itself demonstrate that the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves addressed others as "''father''" and were called "''father''".  

This text in Matthew has been cited as condemning any use of the word "father" as an address or title of respect to any man, as if it said, "''Call no man on earth, 'father'...''". However, against this defective reading of the meaning of the text, and apart from the fact that a word has been ''removed'' by such a reading (interpretation) of the text, multiple passages in sacred scripture itself demonstrate that the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves addressed others as "''father''" and were called "''father''".  

St. Paul told the Corinthians that though they had many guides, he was their father through the gospel, and he also said he was a father to Timothy. There is a substantial difference in saying "my father" and simply saying "Father". For example, no Catholic says to a priest, "my father, ... ", but says instead, "Father", as a title of respect. In the same way, for example, [[Stephen|St. Stephen]] addressed the high priest and members of the council as fathers, and John explicitly addresses the fathers of the Christian community as "fathers". See Acts 7:2, 22:1; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; Philippians 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; Hebrews 13:17.  

St. Paul told the Corinthians that though they had many guides, he was their father through the gospel, and he also said he was a father to Timothy. [[Stephen|St. Stephen]] addressed the high priest and members of the council as fathers, and John explicitly addresses the leaders of the Christian community as "fathers". In the same way, for example, no Catholic says to a priest, "my father, ... ", but says instead, "Father", as a title of respect. There is a substantial difference in saying "my father" and simply saying "Father". See Acts 7:2, 22:1; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; Philippians 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; Hebrews 13:17.  

Most translations of Matthew 23:9 faithfully say "''your father''"; others explicitly omit the word '''ὑμῶν''' "''your''" in translation as an anti-Catholic reading which has no grammatical basis and cannot be justified according to the New Testament Greek text of Matthew 23:9

Most translations of Matthew 23:9 faithfully say "''your father''"; but others explicitly omit the word '''ὑμῶν''' "''your''" in translation as an anti-Catholic reading which has no grammatical basis and cannot be justified according to the New Testament Greek text of Matthew 23:9

::9 καὶ πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ πατήρ '''ὑμῶν''', ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.  

::9 καὶ πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ πατήρ '''ὑμῶν''', ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.  

Omitting to include in translation a word that is present in every extant manuscript of this verse in Matthew is a deliberate act involving substantial alteration of the meaning of the scriptural text, an act which every Bible-believing Christian condemns. <br>See Jeremiah 8:8 and Revelation 22:18.  

Omitting to include in translation a word that is present in every extant manuscript of this verse in Matthew is a deliberate act involving substantial alteration of the meaning of the scriptural text, an act which every Bible-believing Christian condemns. <br>See Jeremiah 8:8 and Revelation 22:18.  

In the early centuries of Christianity, the title of Father (Greek ''pappas, papa, pape'' "''pap-eh''") was applied, especially in the east, to all bishops and other senior clergy<ref>"Pope", Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3</ref>, and later became reserved in the west to the Bishop of Rome, a reservation made official only in the 11th century<ref>See the following five sources:

In the early centuries of Christianity, the title of Father (Greek ''pappas, papa, pape'' "''pap-eh''") was applied, especially in the east, to all bishops and other senior clergy<ref>"Pope", Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3</ref>, and later became reserved in the west to the Bishop of Rome, a reservation made official only in the 11th century<ref>See the following five sources:

*Elwell, Walter A. (2001). ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology''. Baker Academic. p. 888. ISBN 9780801020759. Retrieved 18 February 2013.

*Elwell, Walter A. (2001). ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology''. Baker Academic. p. 888. ISBN 9780801020759.  

*Greer, Thomas H.; Gavin Lewis (2004). A Brief History of the Western World. Cengage Learning. p. 172. ISBN 9780534642365. Retrieved 18 February 2013.

*Greer, Thomas H.; Gavin Lewis (2004). A Brief History of the Western World. Cengage Learning. p. 172. ISBN 9780534642365.  

*Mazza, Enrico (2004). The Eucharistic Prayers of the Roman Rite. Liturgical Press. p. 63. ISBN 9780814660782. Retrieved 18 February 2013.

*Mazza, Enrico (2004). The Eucharistic Prayers of the Roman Rite. Liturgical Press. p. 63. ISBN 9780814660782.  

*O'Malley, John W. (2009). A History of the Popes. Government Institutes. p. xv. ISBN 9781580512275. Retrieved 18 February 2013.

*O'Malley, John W. (2009). A History of the Popes. Government Institutes. p. xv. ISBN 9781580512275.  

*Schatz, Klaus (1996). Papal Primacy. Liturgical Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9780814655221. Retrieved 18 February 2013.</ref>. The earliest record of the use of this title was in regard to the by then deceased Patriarch of Alexandria, Pope Heraclas of Alexandria (232–248)<ref>Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica Book VII, chapter 7.7</ref>. The earliest recorded use of the title "pope" in English dates to the mid-10th century, when it was used in reference to Pope Vitalian in an Old English translation of Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum<ref>"pope, n.1". OED Online. September 2011. Oxford University Press. 21 November 2011</ref>.

*Schatz, Klaus (1996). Papal Primacy. Liturgical Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9780814655221. </ref>. The earliest record of the use of this title was in regard to the by then deceased Patriarch of Alexandria, Pope Heraclas of Alexandria (232–248)<ref>Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica Book VII, chapter 7.7</ref>. The earliest recorded use of the title "pope" in English dates to the mid-10th century, when it was used in reference to Pope Vitalian in an Old English translation of Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum<ref>"pope, n.1". OED Online. September 2011. Oxford University Press. 21 November 2011</ref>.

==Supreme Pontiff==

==Supreme Pontiff==

The Pope's ecclesiastical seat of jurisdictional authority is called the [[Holy See]]. Since 1059 The Pope has always been chosen by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meeting in secret. When they have not reached a decision they burn the ballots and black smoke emerges; when a pope is chosen the smoke is white.  

The Pope's ecclesiastical seat of jurisdictional authority is called the [[Holy See]]. Since 1059 The Pope has always been chosen by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meeting in secret. When they have not reached a decision they burn the ballots and black smoke emerges; when a pope is chosen the smoke is white.  

== Insignia ==

== Insignia ==

== Francis ==

== Francis ==

Today the Pope is [[Pope Francis]], (formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) who became the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded [[Pope Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313</ref>

Today the Pope is [[Pope Francis]], (formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) who became the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded [[Pope Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313</ref>

=====[[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)|Textual exegesis]]=====

=====[[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)|Textual exegesis]]=====

"'''I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven'''" Matthew 16:19. The Greek word '''σοι''' "''to you''" here is singular, not plural '''ὑμῖν''' "''to you''", and therefore this declaration was not addressed to the entire immediate group of his assembled disciples, ''[[Eisegesis|as some would have it]]'', but only to Peter. The structure of Greek grammar in this text clearly permits no other reading.

"'''I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven'''" Matthew 16:19. The Greek word '''σοι''' "''to you''" here is singular, not the plural '''ὑμῖν''' "''to you''", and therefore this declaration was not addressed to the entire immediate group of his assembled disciples, ''[[Eisegesis|as some would have it]]'', but only to Peter. The structure of Greek grammar in this text clearly permits no other reading.

In the later apparently parallel text of Matthew 18:18 the phrase "''keys of the Kingdom of Heaven''" does not appear (see verses 15-20). On the principle of ''sola scriptura'', there is no linguistic textual basis for saying that Jesus gave the "''keys''" to all the apostles on that occasion, but only that he gave them all the collective authority to bind and loose together, an authority which is distinctly different from the authority to open and shut the "''Kingdom of Heaven''" (see Revelation 1:17-18; 3:7).  

In the later apparently parallel text of Matthew 18:18 the phrase "''keys of the Kingdom of Heaven''" does not appear (see verses 15-20). On the principle of ''sola scriptura'', there is no linguistic textual basis for saying that Jesus gave the "''keys''" to all the apostles on that occasion, but only that he gave them all the collective authority to bind and loose together, an authority which is distinctly different from the authority to open and shut the "''Kingdom of Heaven''" (see Revelation 1:17-18; 3:7).  

Peter (and Paul) did found a church in Rome in 42 A.D.<ref>Archaeological evidence cited:

Peter (and Paul) did found a church in Rome in 42 A.D.<ref>Archaeological evidence cited:

*[http://catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/general/rome.htm Was St. Peter in Rome? archaeological evidence (catholicapologetics.info)]

*[http://catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/general/rome.htm Was St. Peter in Rome? archaeological evidence (catholicapologetics.info)]

*[https://www.catholic.com/tract/was-peter-in-rome Was Peter in Rome? (catholic.com)]</ref> and he served as the bishop for 25 years until 67 A.D. when he was martyred. However, the primacy of the bishop of Rome as patriarch in the Western Roman Empire, always acknowledged as "first in dignity", was not unequivocally established as having ''[[Jurisdiction|juridical]]'' primacy for several centuries, and even then was rejected by eastern bishops who guide the Eastern Orthodox Church under the leadership of the Patriarch of Constantinople<ref>[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Primacy_and_Unity_in_Orthodox_Ecclesiology Primacy and Unity in Orthodox Ecclesiology (orthodoxwiki.org)]</ref>.

*[https://www.catholic.com/tract/was-peter-in-rome Was Peter in Rome? (catholic.com)]</ref> and he served as the bishop for 25 years until 67 A.D. when he was [[martyr]]ed. However, the primacy of the bishop of Rome as patriarch in the Western Roman Empire, always acknowledged as "first in dignity", was not unequivocally established as having ''[[Jurisdiction|juridical]]'' primacy for several centuries, and even then was rejected by eastern bishops who guide the Eastern Orthodox Church under the leadership of the Patriarch of Constantinople<ref>[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Primacy_and_Unity_in_Orthodox_Ecclesiology Primacy and Unity in Orthodox Ecclesiology (orthodoxwiki.org)]</ref>.

===Early history to 350===

===Early history to 350===

Catholics recognize the pope as the successor to [[Saint Peter]], whom [[Jesus of Nazareth|Jesus]] designated as the "rock" upon which the Church was to be built.<ref>The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church, §881</ref><ref name=Kirsch>Kirsch, Johann Peter. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm "St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles."] The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 21 Jul. 2014</ref> Although Peter never bore the title of "pope" (Latin papa), Catholics recognize him as the first pope and Bishop of Rome, because he had the office, but not the title. Official declarations of the Church speak of the popes as holding within the college of the bishops a position analogous to that held by Peter within the college of the [[Twelve Apostles]], namely Prince of the Apostles, of which the college of the Bishops, a distinct entity, is the successor.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html | title = Second Vatican Council | contribution = Lumen Gentium | page = 22 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19921007en.html | author = Pope John Paul II | title = Talk | date = 7 October 1992 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j8-GHiYUSX8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Dulles+catholicity#v=onepage&q=episcopal%20college&f=false | author = Avery Dulles | title = The Catholicity of the Church | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1987 | isbn = 0-19-826695-2 | page = 140 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref>

Catholics recognize the pope as the successor to [[Saint Peter]], whom [[Jesus of Nazareth|Jesus]] designated as the "rock" upon which the Church was to be built.<ref>The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church, §881</ref><ref name=Kirsch>Kirsch, Johann Peter. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm "St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles."] The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 21 Jul. 2014</ref> Although Peter never bore the title of "pope" (Latin papa), Catholics recognize him as the first pope and Bishop of Rome, because he had the office, but not the title. Official declarations of the Church speak of the popes as holding within the college of the bishops a position analogous to that held by Peter within the college of the [[Twelve Apostles]], namely Prince of the Apostles, of which the college of the Bishops, a distinct entity, is the successor.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html | title = Second Vatican Council | contribution = Lumen Gentium | page = 22.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19921007en.html | author = Pope John Paul II | title = Talk | date = 7 October 1992 . </ref><ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j8-GHiYUSX8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Dulles+catholicity#v=onepage&q=episcopal%20college&f=false | author = Avery Dulles | title = The Catholicity of the Church | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1987 | isbn = 0-19-826695-2 | page = 140.}}</ref>

Many popes in the first three centuries of the Christian era are obscure figures. Several suffered martyrdom along with members of their flock in periods of persecution. Most of them engaged in intense theological arguments with other bishops.

Many popes in the first three centuries of the Christian era are obscure figures. Several suffered [[martyr]]dom along with members of their flock in periods of persecution. Most of them engaged in intense theological arguments with other bishops.

See [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] and [[Biblical Canon#Historical development]].

See [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] and [[Biblical Canon#Historical development]].