[Alex Murphy]

Article goes on to interpret what the Pope meant to say.

IB4TPWMA

[BipolarBob]

First off Catholics follow every word His Holiness says as if it were from God Himself. As if he were the Vicar of Christ. As if some magic link that goes all the way back to Peter was in play (despite lack of scriptural or natural evidence their is a line of succession of some "magic" powers held in such office). But if he were to make some gaffe or verbal misstep THEN it's "He wasn't speaking ex-cathedra" time. They have a cover for everything. IF he were part of some succession of office he would be healing the sick and wandering the globe in poverty without Papal glory and accouterments.