August 27, 2023: Why Do Catholics Even Have a Pope?

“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Today’s Gospel reading is the creation of what we now call the office of the Pope, the first of which being Peter. Father Loomis brings up a good question- “why do Catholics even have a Pope?”… the short answer being that “Christ instituted it for our good” and the office is very clearly instituted in scripture. Father draws the comparison between Solomon in the book of 1 Kings and Jesus, both calling forward 12 leaders. Solomon creates the office of “master of the palace”, and in a similar way, Jesus hands Peter the “keys to the kingdom”. The office of the Pope isn’t one that is always met with acceptance, and the person holding the office isn’t always a saint- but Father Loomis argues that the papacy is Christ’s gift to you… “a gift that unites a universal church under one voice”. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: First Reading: Isaiah 22:15, 19-23 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8 Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20