The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-07-17
rhs pore AND HIS POWER.

head Of the church.
For many centuries the name
pope was confined to the bishop Of
ONE, but now it means the head 3.
tie church universal
The supreme ecclesiastical primacy
was conceded by the Catholic church
60 the Roman bishop or pope from re-
mote antiquity
Beginning with Peter, whose acces-
sion took place A. D. Al, and coming
down to Pope Leo XIII, whose acces-
sion TOOK lace in 1878. there has been
an unbrolxen chain extending over a
period of eighteen hundred and sixty
two years
During that period-from Peter to
Leo Kills. popes have reigned, av-
eraging p years to each reign.
Leo has reigned 25 years-but Pope
Plus TX reigned from 1s46 to 1875
a period OF 80 years.
Pope P,us VII, however, ascended
the throne in 1sOO--and there have
been five pcres since, making six in
all in 10s years.
The pope holds sway and jurisdic-
tion over the entire church body, in
dividually and collectively.
He is the supreme teacher or doc
tor-and 81 this capacity is infalllble
when speaking as such.
In other words, the pope in defining
a doctrine y faith to be held by the
whole chu. N r supposed to be in
capable OF error
Moreover. the pope is the supreme
legislator 10 the church and can inter-
pret modify and dispense in all mat
ters Of ecclesiastical law.
The pope is the supreme judge of
the faithfu,-whether members of the
or laymen, and can hear and
decide all major causes and appeals
from lower tribunals.
The pope is the supreme administra-
tor-and therefore has the power to
watch ove~ the divine services. and to
appoint, remove or transfer bishops.
The pope is the supreme supervisor
and receives regularly reports and
from bishops and other chief
authorities within the
limits of their jurisdiction.
The universal ecclesiastical juris-
diction of the pope includes the right
20 send agents TO represent his per
son and authority before the churches.
or even before the temporal authosi-
ties.
This authority is vested in the pope
by Divine right, because he is th'
legitimate successor Of St Peter-and
as such tho chief bishop Of the Cath.
ollc world.-the visible and ministerial
head of the whole church-whose in
visible ard eternal head is Jesus
Christ
The origin OF the temporal power of
the pope occurred In the sixth century,
under Gregory the Great
National and religious feelings con.
to its growth in the first hal
Of the eighth century-and in the lat
ter half OF that century the papacy
entered tho list OF European states by
the formal donations az Pepin and
Under various forms and with vary
ing boundaries the papal states exist
ed through the middle ages as a legit-
innate growth, and their specific pos
session through twelve centuries was
not seriously disputed in the propaga-
ton of Christian faith and culture.
The violent usurpation of Napoleon
was uncone by the congress of VI
emma in 1915.
In 1860 the Piedmontese govern
ment encraached on the states of the
church. anc in 1870 they were ineor-
porated into the kingdom OF Italy.
Nevertheless. no pope has ever rec
ognized that fact, nor accepted the
by which the Italian king
dom undertook to regulate its internal
relations with the papacy.
The ordinary adj anstra ion of
papal authority is ca .ed on through
the body Of officials ana agents whom
the pope employs in his government.
When the pope passes 0way his sue
cessor must be Immediately chosen.
The cardinals meet on the eleventh
day after the pope's decease in SER
les Of double cells, one for each car
dinal. his secretary and chamberlain,
asl on the twelfth day the election
begins.
The cardinals are not bound to elect
one OF their number--only heretics and
u. 4