The Death of a Pope (01.19.23)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS

Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about the death of Pope Benedict XVI. The former pope passed away on December 31st. He resigned in 2013 – the first pope to do so since the early 15th century. Of course, many people are taking this time to remember his life and the contributions he made to the Catholic Church and the world in general. But we want to take the opportunity to discuss, not Pope Benedict XVI, but the whole concept of the “pope” and what the Bible says about that.Continue Reading

While Pope John Paul II Moves Closer to “Sainthood,” I Am Already a Saint

The Catholic church is moving forward on their process of recognizing the late Pope John Paul II as a saint. Since a French nun’s recovery from Parkinson’s disease, after she had prayed to the pope, has been declared a “miracle,” John Paul will be “beatified” during a ceremony on May 1. Once he is “beatified,” Catholics will be able to publicly worship the deceased pope. After “beatification,” a second miracle will have to be “verified” to canonize him as a saint.

If you read through the New Testament, it becomes apparent that the Catholic traditions described above are completely foreign to the gospel. Nowhere do we find anything about a pope, let alone praying to or worshipping this man. We read nothing of “beatification” or “canonization.” One of the few familiar terms in the first paragraph is “saint.” Yet even this has been changed from the simple definition we find in the Scriptures.

According to Catholic doctrine and tradition, the late Pope John Paul II is one step closer to being canonized as a saint by the Church.

According to the New Testament, I am already a saint, along with everyone who faithfully follows the Lord.
Continue Reading