This is a serious question. Isn’t Catholicism completely based on the Pope basically being God’s direct ambassador on earth. And consequently everything the Pope says becomes gospel, so to speak, and must be followed as if God said it? It seems strange that Catholics pick and choose what words they want to follow that come out of the Pope’s mouth.
Your understanding of Catholicism is incorrect. It is not based on what the Pope says. The Pope is a shepherd and the people of the church his flock, but Catholics are not required to follow whatever the shepherd says. You are in error about that.
Catholicism is a a sacramental religion that follows Jesus Christ. The gospels Catholics follow are written in the New Testament. This pope and any pope are only infallible when speaking on matters of dogma which are clearly defined in the Catholic Catechism of the church. Catholics are not required to now believe that Trump is an anti christ and forbidden from voting for him. Before you disparage Catholics, learn about them first.
Catholics must only listen to the Pope when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, on matters of dogma. These are clearly written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. If he changes that, then Houston, we have a problem.
These things he’s saying now are merely his opinion. So Catholics are free to pick and choose which of his opinions they agree with.
"Isn't Catholicism completely based on the Pope basically being God's direct ambassador on earth [?]"
No, it is not. Catholicism is based on the flawless life, salvific death, and perfect teachings of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Catholicism existed even before there was a 'formal' papacy in Rome, and Catholicism would still exist if the Pope took a vow of silence and was never heard from again.
" [So] everything the Pope says becomes gospel, so to speak, and must be followed as if God said it? "
No, it is not.
I'm glad you brought that up because that is a very common but very mistaken idea of what papal infallibility is.
According to the Catholic Church, Papal infallibility has no positive content. I'm going to say that louder so everybody can hear it. Papal infallibility has no positive content.
It is entirely negative: it's not a matter of what the Pope can or does say, but of what he cannot say.
At no time is a pope an all-purpose oracle. It is NOT prophecy. It is NOT inspired the way Scripture is inspired. There is no guarantee that a pope will express moral/doctrinal concepts in a full, complete, clear, accurate and timely manner.
Some Catholics are disappointed that Papal infallibility is as narrow and limited as it is. Some crave that all-purpose prophecy/oracle stuff. But such is not the case. And a great many Catholics (and non-Catholics too) are glad to hear that the scope of infallibility is as narrow as it is.
So, what IS infallibility? Christ's guarantee that the Pope will not make an official declaration on faith and morals, ex cathedra, intended to be irreformable and binding on the conscience of the whole Church, that leads the Church into error. Why is this truly "Christ's" guarantee? Because when Christ founded the Church, He said "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18)
This 2-minute video should raise a smile, and it actually does show how (historically) the gift of infallibility has worked out in practice. Fun Video (LINK) --- Go ahead and click the link, it's well worth your two minutes.
“This is a serious question. Isn’t Catholicism completely based on the Pope basically being God’s direct ambassador on earth. And consequently everything the Pope says becomes gospel, so to speak, and must be followed as if God said it? It seems strange that Catholics pick and choose what words they want to follow that come out of the Pope’s mouth.”
When the Pope speaks foolishly no one has to listen. We respect the office but we have never said that everythig the Pope says must be followed.
No, no, and no.
The Pope is Christ's *vicar*, which means he's an administrator set up to "mind the store" in the the temporary absence of the Owner. In certain very narrow and specific circumstances, he's preserved from teaching heresy as truth.
That's about where it ends.
His offhand comments on matters not germane to the faith (e.g., his favorite soccer team's chances) have no more significance than do mine.
Catholicism is "completely based" on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
No. the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and titular head of the Catholic church...CEO so to speak. While he is certainly highly educated, only when he speaks ex cathedra, from the chair of Peter, is he infallible. I disagree with him on the seriousness of global warming, He leans further to the left than I am comfortable with but he is from a socialist background.....The Pope is the vicar of Christ on Earth....he is in charge of Christianity in the absence of the founder. He cannot err in matter of faith and morals but who he favors in the election is his own business.