Why Should Protestants Care Who the Pope Is?

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Why Should Protestants Care Who the Pope Is?

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As Catholic leadership transitions, many Protestants are asking what impact—if any—the next pope will have on their own faith and the broader Christian landscape. Join the discussion in Crosswalk Forums.
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With the eyes of the world fixed on Rome, many Protestants are left wondering—should we even care who the next pope is?

It’s easy to think of the papacy as a distinctly Catholic concern, but in today’s interconnected religious landscape, the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics can influence global Christian witness, religious freedom, and public morality. From the political stage to the theological pulpit, the Pope’s voice carries weight—whether we agree with it or not.

This article lays out some compelling reasons why Protestants should pay attention to Catholic leadership:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: 3 Reasons Why Protestants Should Care Who Leads the Catholic Church | Crosswalk.com

Do you think the next pope could shape public perception of Christianity as a whole?
How should Protestant believers approach this moment—with concern, prayer, or something else?

Even when we don’t share a church, we still share a mission—to make Christ known.

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Hi,
Other than curiosity, I don’t care who they select.
The Pope is considered an elected head-of-state.
As such, it does not affect me.

Blessings

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The pope is the most influential Christian in the world. While I personally am not a fan of Catholicism, preferring the Christianity of the Bible, the pope is very important to a huge population of our Christian brothers and sisters.

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Blasphemy!!! Catholics are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I do not agree with the way they live out their type of Christianity but …

THEY ARE CHRISTIANS!!! They are not “the mother of harlots” or any other blasphemous , self-righteous, judgmental term others throw at them.

Brother David, would you wash the feet of a Catholic? Jesus washed Judas’ feet. Are you better than Jesus?

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Peace to all,

To me the confusion is in the Trinity, becoming again and in the Two Nature God of Abraham, to me.

United we become to remove the contention now becoming from One Father through One Mother for One Son becoming The Christ bcoming Again, One God, One Holy Spirit Family One God in being.
The Popoe is Catholic and logiclly does not undertdatn teh Mind of GOd, to me, ans I menattherin in a good way,

For we are saved through The Faith of Abraham.

Peaxce always,
Stephen

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Peace to all,

TO me The Pope Catholics believe sits om Moses seat and faithfully carries out the duties He sees as pertaining to teh Catholic Church.

He is teh logical Vicar, but toi me noone really understands teh Logic of teh Ming of GOd, and I mean this in a good way,

To me the logical understanding helps those with less faith become more faithful.

Peace always,
Stephen

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Well now, BrotherDavid just dropped a match on a theological powder keg, didn’t he?

Let’s break this down like a Berean with a Bible and a backbone.

Revelation 17:5 doesn’t stutter: “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Now I’m not here to play pin-the-tail-on-the-Antichrist, but let’s not pretend history hasn’t given us some glaring red flags stitched in papal gold.

You’ve got a system that calls itself “Holy Mother Church,” claims universal authority, wears scarlet and purple, traffics in relics like a medieval QVC, and drinks from a golden cup while handing out indulgences like spiritual coupons. If it quacks like Revelation 17 and canonizes like Constantine’s marketing department, maybe it’s time to stop pretending it’s just a quaint denomination with incense and better architecture.

But here’s the twist: this isn’t about Catholics—it’s about clarity. Protestants shouldn’t care who the Pope is because we need his approval. We should care because millions are still trapped in a system that sells grace like a franchise and buries the gospel under layers of tradition. We care because truth matters and deception ain’t cute just because it’s wearing a funny hat.

So yes, BrotherDavid, the system smells like spiritual harlotry—and some of us are still out here shouting, “Come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4), while others are too busy trying to make ecumenical s’mores on the fires of compromise.

The Pope may not be the Antichrist, but he’s certainly running PR for the spirit of it.

Next?

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Ah, Benny… swinging the “blasphemy” bat like it’s a piñata filled with tolerance instead of truth.

Let’s walk this out—barefoot, since we’re apparently washing feet now.

First off, calling false doctrine what it is isn’t blasphemy. It’s biblical discernment. Blasphemy is attributing the work of God to Satan or vice versa—not quoting Revelation 17 and asking if maybe, just maybe, a system that prays to Mary, denies justification by faith alone, and claims the Pope is the “Vicar of Christ” might be… how shall we say it… not exactly in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

You say, “They are Christians!!!” with all caps and exclamation points, but here’s the real test—not emotion, not ecumenical vibes, but the gospel.

  • Do they believe Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice is sufficient?
  • Do they believe in salvation by grace through faith—not of works, lest any man should boast?
  • Do they affirm Scripture alone as the highest authority?

Because Galatians 1:8 hits like a hammer: “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Not corrected. Not coddled. Accursed.

Now about this foot-washing guilt trip—you really gonna weaponize Jesus’ humility to shut down truth-telling? Yes, Jesus washed Judas’ feet. And right after that, He told the truth about Judas and called him a devil (John 6:70). Compassion isn’t compromise. Love doesn’t lie.

So yes, I’ll wash a Catholic’s feet—and then I’ll preach the uncut gospel to them while they dry off. Because loving someone doesn’t mean affirming their error. It means calling them out of it.

You want unity? Great. Let’s unite around truth, not watered-down theology and sentimental hand-holding while people are led astray by doctrines of demons dressed in tradition (1 Timothy 4:1).

Jesus didn’t die for “types of Christianity.” He died to deliver us from every false gospel. Let’s stop acting like gospel clarity is cruelty.

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StephenAndrew, peace right back at you—but I’m gonna need to borrow a red pen, a Bible, and possibly a decoder ring.

Let’s start with the spiritual fog machine you just turned on. I love poetic mysticism as much as the next prophet in camel hair, but the “One God becoming One Family through One Mother for One Son becoming Again” bit? That’s not theology, that’s a theological word smoothie. And somebody slipped in a banana of confusion.

Now to the meat—or tofu, in this case:
“The Pope is the logical Vicar.”
Friend, the only thing the Pope logically vicars is a religious system that canonized man-made tradition over the Word of God. “Sits on Moses’ seat”? That seat was obliterated the minute the veil tore and the true High Priest—Christ—sat down at the right hand of the Father. You want a seat? Try Hebrews 1:3: “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Not Rome. Not Vatican City. Heaven.

And while we’re at it, “we are saved through the faith of Abraham”? Correct in principle—Romans 4:3 backs you: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” But don’t stop there. That righteousness didn’t come through confusion, or popes, or “logical vicars”—it came through faith in the promise, and that promise has a name: Jesus Christ. Not Mary, not Rome, not tradition with a crucifix.

Look, I appreciate the peaceful tone. Really. But let’s not let “peace” mean “passivity.” Confusion about the Trinity, the two natures of Christ, or the gospel itself isn’t harmless—it’s a soul hazard. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), so if your theology sounds like a riddle wrapped in mystery served with incense, it’s time to open the Word, not just your inner feelings.

Truth isn’t a puzzle. It’s a Person.
And His name is Jesus.
Let’s not trade Him for poetic parables and papal placeholders.

Selah.

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Stephen Andrew,
One thing is for sure the pope is NOT the vicar of Christ…The term “vicar” originates from the Latin “vicarius,” meaning “substitute” or “representative”.

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Thanks SincereSeeker,

Like: “Let’s start with the spiritual fog machine you just turned on. I love poetic mysticism as much as the next prophet in camel hair, but the “One God becoming One Family through One Mother for One Son becoming Again” bit?” SincereSeeker 2025

So true, The New Jerusalem, is the Temple logically Becoming again in our own Christ, The Mind of God in Conceived by the Power of the Whole Holy Spirit Family of God One God in being delivered from the Immaculate Conception through The Virgin Birth for Jesus becoming from the Power fo the Holy Spirit Family Conceived through the Flesh of Jesus becoming The Christ in all mankind becoming again gloroifoed and transfigured One Holy Spirit Family Oen God in being, to me, in all generalization.

From Baptism we become teh New Eve immortalized from te Holy Spirit througheh souls of all fro teh flesh to become into teh Church through His Passion, logiocally.

Abraham is promised redemption life in two natures, one out of teh Bosom of Abrahan, where doed the other nature go?

Peace always,
Stephen

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StephenAndrew… brother. I say this in love and with the full weight of sanctified sarcasm: if your theology had a GPS, it would still be “recalculating.”

You’re stringing together sacred-sounding syllables like a beat poet in a cathedral, but the end result is less divine revelation, more theological word salad with a side of incense confusion. I’m not sure if I just read a doctrinal statement or accidentally summoned a cloud of liturgical smoke.

Let’s cut through the haze.

“The New Jerusalem is the Temple logically Becoming again in our own Christ…”

Pause. The New Jerusalem is not us becoming Christ—it’s the Bride of Christ, prepared by Him, not a mystical reincarnation of a temple inside our chakras. Revelation 21:2 doesn’t say we become Christ. It says we’re presented to Christ. Big difference. This isn’t divine osmosis—it’s covenant love.

“Conceived by the Power of the Whole Holy Spirit Family…”

There is no “Holy Spirit Family” in Scripture. That’s not Trinitarian theology; that’s cosmic fan fiction. The Holy Spirit is a Person of the Trinity, not part of some spiritual Brady Bunch.

“Abraham is promised redemption life in two natures…”

Abraham was promised descendants, a land, and a Seed—and that Seed is Christ (Galatians 3:16). Not two natures, not mystical transcendence, not abstract metaphysical goo. Just faith in God, credited as righteousness.

Let’s stop trying to baptize confusion and call it “deep.” The Word became flesh—not a fog. Jesus didn’t speak in tongues to impress the Pharisees—He spoke truth to pierce hearts. And right now, someone needs to lovingly hand you a Bible, a strong cup of coffee, and a reminder that clarity is not the enemy of mystery. It’s the doorway to real understanding.

God’s truth doesn’t need embellishment. It needs bold proclamation.

Peace to you—but peace with truth, not poetic riddles wrapped in Latin-scented sentiment.

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:sweat_smile: This is as farcical as it gets!

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Who are you to judge the Pope? He → is ← the Vicar of Christ whether you like it or not.

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:rofl: Ha, ha, ha, ha … ha!

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Exactly, BrotherDavid. The Pope calling himself the “Vicar of Christ” is like a mailman slapping on a crown and claiming he speaks for the sender.

Let’s just say it plain: There is no substitute for Christ. None. Nada. Zero. Hebrews 7:24–25 is the spiritual mic drop: “Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”

So if Jesus is always interceding, where exactly is the job opening that the Pope is applying for?

Calling the Pope “Vicar of Christ” is theological identity theft. Christ didn’t leave His Bride to be managed by a man in Rome dressed like a Fabergé egg. He left His Spirit and His Word. The only “substitute” Christ acknowledged is the Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper…” (John 14:16). Not another man. Not another priesthood. Another Helper—divine, not papal.

So let’s kill the confusion:

  • The Pope is not Christ’s representative.
  • He is not infallible.
  • He is not the head of the Church.

Jesus doesn’t need a vicar. He needs disciples who know His voice and refuse the counterfeits.

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Here is a video about some of the history of pope-ism…If you can handle the darkness, there is also a part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV74OY3fIkg
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