[ebb tide]

The nerve centre of Catholicism is the Vatican, a city-state carved out of Rome, and the ruler of the Church and the religion is the pope. Pope Francis is the 266th and current pope.

The ruler of the Catholic Church and "the religion" is Jesus Christ. Popes have only served as His vicars, here on earth.

And Bergoglio has recently relegated that title, Vicar of Christ, to the history books. He won't use it. Apparently he's the vicar of another entity (Soros, Satan, perhaps?)

Pope Francis: I’m Not The Vicar of Christ or Successor of the Apostles!

[kinsman redeemer]

You said, "Popes have only served as His vicars, here on earth." I know you don't prefer to engage with me, but I found the following definition of "vicar" and I'm curious. Which part (if any) of the following definition fits YOUR use of the word?

Dictionary.com defines the word:

noun

1. Church of England.
a. a person acting as priest of a parish in place of the rector, or as representative of a religious community to which tithes belong.
b. the priest of a parish in which tithes were formerly transferred to a religious house, chapter, or layperson, the priest receiving only the smaller tithes or a salary.

2. Protestant Episcopal Church. a. a member of the clergy whose sole or chief charge is a chapel dependent on the church of a parish.
b. a bishop's assistant in charge of a church or mission.

3. Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic representing the pope or a bishop.

4. a person who acts in place of another; substitute.

5. a person who is authorized to perform the functions of another; deputy: God's vicar on earth.

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It seems like YOUR use of the word is more like #5, not #3. I seem to recall that we used the word (in the RCC six decades ago) more like #3.

What are your thoughts? I don't expect you to answer.