What Will the New Pope Be Like?
With the demise of Francis (April 21, 2025), a new search begins for the next pope, and the questions people are asking include, “What will he be like? Will he stress ecumenism? Will he soften the church’s stance on abortion? Will he endorse homosexual marriages? Will he become more liberal, following the lead of society? Or will he revert to some of the church’s traditional teachings?” The purpose in asking all these questions is not to obtain answers to them; his philosophy will be made known soon enough.
The point of this brief article is to show that, if Jesus had actually appointed anyone to be a pope, these questions would be unnecessary. Catholics have declared Peter to be the first pope, which is not true. Peter could not be a pope if he were living on earth today. Why not? The main reason is that he was married. He was? Yes! Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother in Matthew 8:14-15. If anyone knows some other way to obtain a mother-in-law than by being married, please explain the procedure to the rest of us. “Oh,” someone might protest, “but that was before he became an apostle.” No, Paul wrote some 25 years later that Cephas (another name for Peter, as in John 1:42) traveled about with a wife (1 Cor. 9:5). In addition, Peter states that he is an elder (1 Peter 5:1). Paul listed, as part of the qualifications for such a person, that he must be married—and have children (1 Tim. 3:1-7). Peter could not have been selected as pope today.
Besides, Peter did not make individual “rulings” for the church. He had a say when the apostles and elders met to discuss those causing problems in the church (Acts 15:7-11). After Barnabas and others spoke, James, the Lord’s brother, spoke (15:13-21). Then they wrote a letter, which resolved the situation. Peter did not himself make the decision. Some time later, Paul had to rebuke Peter for an error in his behavior (Gal. 2:11-14). Peter was not a pope; the word does not even appear in the New Testament. That tradition began in 606 A.D., with Boniface III.
Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). No one else can rightfully claim such a position. But if Jesus had appointed someone to represent Him on earth, then no one would need to ask the question, “What will he be like?” Suppose such a person were asked, “What do you think about repentance and baptism with respect to salvation?” He would, of necessity, be compelled to answer, “I think Peter meant what he said on Pentecost—that people must repent of their sins and be baptized to have them forgiven” (Acts 2:38). “Are you sure about the need for baptism?” “Yes, Peter said that baptism ‘now saves us’” (1 Peter 3:21). “What about drinking parties and such?” Peter said Christians have given up such things (1 Peter 4:1-4).
“What about homosexual marriage?” “Peter explained that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their ungodliness (for practicing homosexuality) and serve as an example to others of the way God punishes wickedness (2 Peter 2:6-8). In other words, there is no need for a pope when we have the inspired Scriptures. In fact, it was Peter who said that God “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3). The Word is sufficient; there is no need for more revelation. The only thing a pope could do is bring to mind what the Scriptures already teach. And since we can all read the Bible for ourselves and do the same thing, then no need for such a position is necessary.