Vicar of Christ

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For the novel by Walter F. Murphy, see Vicar of Christ (novel).

Vicar of Christ (Latin Vicarius Christi) has been used since Pope Gelasius I, alongside a few rarer 'vicarial' titles, as one of the titles of the Bishop of Rome —the Pope— as head of the universal apostolic Catholic Church.

[edit] History

This title of the pope implies his supreme and universal primacy, both of honour and of jurisdiction, over the Catholic Church. It is founded on the words of Jesus Christ to St. Peter - "Feed my lambs ... Feed my sheep" (John 21:16-17). The Catholic Church believes Jesus made St. Peter the leader of the Apostles, hence, Prince of the Apostles, and constituted him as the guardian of His entire flock (the Church) in His own place, thus making him His Vicar and fulfilling the promise He made in Matthew 16:18-19.

In the course of the ages other vicarial designations have been used for the pope, such as Vicar of St. Peter, Vicar of the Prince of the Apostles (again referring to St. Peter, the first Pope) and even Vicar of the Apostolic See (Pope Gelasius, I, Ep. vi), but the title Vicar of Christ is more expressive of his supreme headship of the Catholic Church on earth, which Catholics believe he bears by virtue of the commission of Christ and with vicarial power derived from Him. Thus, pope Innocent III removed bishops by appealing to his power as Vicar of Christ (cap. "Inter corporalia", 2, "De trans. ep."). He declared that Christ had given such power only to His vicar, Peter and his successors (cap. "Quanto", 3, ibid.) and stated that the Roman Pontiff is "the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Jesus Christ" (cap. "Licet", 4, ibid.).

The title Vicar of God used for the pope by Nicholas III (c. "Fundamenta ejus", 17, "De elect.", in 6) is employed as an equivalent for Vicar of Christ.