Day 123: The Pope (2025)

This episode explores the roles of the Episcopal College and the Pope within the Catholic Church, drawing heavily from paragraphs 880-887 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike Schmitz explains the concept of the Episcopal College as a communion of bishops, united under the leadership of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome and successor to St. Peter. More significantly, the episode delves into the unique authority bestowed upon the Pope by Jesus Christ, emphasizing his role as the "rock" upon which the Church is built, as described in Matthew 16. For instance, Fr. Schmitz connects the Pope's authority to the Old Testament figure of the "Al-Habayit," highlighting the historical and theological significance of this role. Against this backdrop, the episode also discusses the individual roles of bishops within their dioceses and their shared responsibility for the universal Church. The episode concludes by emphasizing the interconnectedness of all members of the Church, urging listeners to pray for their bishops and for one another, as the strength of each member contributes to the overall strength of the Church.