From the earliest days of Christianity, believers have looked for a visible shepherd—someone who could guide, teach, and preserve the unity of Christ’s followers. For Catholics, the Pope is that shepherd, not by human invention, but by the will of Christ Himself. Many people ask this question because it touches something profound: how God continues to lead His people in a living, tangible way.
When Jesus spoke to the Apostle Peter, He said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18). Those words were not only a promise but the foundation of what Catholics believe became the papacy. Jesus entrusted Peter with a unique role—to be the visible sign of unity among His disciples and to “strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). After Peter’s death, this mission of guiding and uniting the Church continued through his successors, the Bishops of Rome—whom we now call Popes.
The Pope, then, is not a king ruling by power, but a servant who carries the responsibility of Peter—to guard the faith, to teach truth, and to help the whole Church remain one in Christ. He is often called the “Servant of the Servants of God,” a title that reminds us that his authority exists for service, not for domination.
For Catholics, having a Pope means having a spiritual father who helps hold the Church together as one body across the centuries and continents. He reminds us that faith is not just personal, but also communal—that we belong to something larger than ourselves, the living Body of Christ.
May we always see in the Pope not just an office, but a sign of Christ’s enduring care for His people—guiding us, uniting us, and calling us ever closer to the Shepherd who never leaves His flock.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
