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Questions / The Church and the Pope

Why does the Church have a Pope?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Ascension Presents

Video: Why Catholics Have a Pope, Ascension Presents, published Jul 10, 2019. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Because Jesus gave Simon a new name, Peter, the “rock”, and handed him the keys. CCC 881

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

The Catechism says the Lord made Simon alone, whom He named Peter, the “rock” of His Church, gave him the keys, and made him shepherd of the whole flock. CCC 881

The Pope, as Peter’s successor, is the visible source and foundation of unity for the bishops and all the faithful. CCC 882

Our words

A family needs someone to hold it together. Catholics believe Jesus provided that on purpose, with Peter, and that the job didn’t end when Peter died.

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 881, 882 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.