Here you see the coat of arms for Pope John Paul II. The "M" represents Mary, whom the Roman Catholic Church champions as the Mediatrix of salvation between Jesus and all mankind. Take note of the crown on top. It is a triple tiered crown, that is also called a tiara or triregno in Latin.

Concerning the extent of Papal dignity, authority, or dominion and infallibility.
(Quoadea quoeconcernunt papae dignitatem, auctoritatem, seu potestatem, et infallibilitatem.)

#1. "The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God."
(#1. "Papa tantae est dignitatis et cesitudinis, ut non sit simplex homo, sed quasi Deus, et Dei vicarius.")

#13. "Hence the Pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and of earth and of the lower regions."
(#13. Hinc Papa triplici corona coronatur tanquam rex coeli, terre et infernoram.")

#18. "As to papal authority, the Pope is as it were God on earth, Sole sovereign of all the faithful of Christ, chief king of kings, having a plentitude of unbroken power, entrusted by the omnipotent God to govern the earthly and heavenly kingdoms." (#18. "Deveniendo ad Papae auctoritatem, Papa est quasi Deus in terra unicaus Christifidelium princeps, regum omnium rex maximus, plenitudinem potestatis continens, cui terreni simul, ac coelestis imperii gubernacula ab omnipotenti Deo credita sunt.")

John XXIII Pontifex Maximus wearing the triregno crown.

#30. "The Pope is of so great authority and power, that he is able to modify, declare, or interpret even divine laws."
(#30. "Papa tantae est auctoritatis et potestatis, ut possit quoque leges divinas modificare, declarare, vel interpretari, ad num.")

Source: Lucius Ferraris, “Papa,” art. 2, in his Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica, Juridica, Moralis, Theologica, Ascetica, Polemica, Rubristica, Historica. (“Handy Library”), Vol. 5, published in Petit-Montrouge (Paris) by J. P. Migne, 1858 edition, column 1823, Latin.

Here are the relevant Scanned pages from Ferraris' Prompta Bibliotheca for those who would like to see the original Latin text of the above quotes.

These papal claims, to include the presumed authority to modify the divine laws of God, were specifically prophesied in the book of Daniel:

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: (of the most High) and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

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   It is a remarkable fact that the first instance upon record in which the bishop of Rome attempted to rule the Christian church was by AN EDICT IN BEHALF OF SUNDAY. It had been the custom of all the churches to celebrate the passover, but with this difference: that while the eastern churches observed it upon the fourteenth day of the first month, no matter what day of the week this might be, the western churches kept it upon the Sunday following that day; or rather, upon the Sunday following Good Friday. Victor, bishop of Rome, in the year 196,³⁶ took upon him to impose the Roman custom upon all the churches; that is, to compel them to observe the passover upon Sunday. "This bold attempt," says Bower, "we may call the first essay of papal usurpation."³⁷ And Dowling terms it the "earliest instance of Romish assumption."<sup>38

36</sup> Bower`s History of the Popes, vol. i. pp. 18, 19; 
     Rose's Neander, pp. 188-190; 
     Dowling`s History of Romanism, book i, chap. ii. sect. 9. 
³⁷ History of the Popes, vol. i. p. 18.
³⁸ History of Romanism, heading of page 32. 

Source: History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week, by J.N. Andrews, Chapter 16, Origin of First-Day Observance, page 201.

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Papal Tiara     The most respected of the ecclesiastical symbols, the tiara, or trigreno, is also a symbol of the pope's authority over the Church. No one knows for certain when the tiara originated, and it has undergone many changes since it first appeared at the Papal Court. The tiara comprises three separate crowns, or diadems. The bottom crown appeared in the ninth century as ornamentation at the base of the mitre.     When pontiffs assumed the temporal role of sovereign princes, they further adorned the base decorations with the jeweled crown of the princes of the time. The second crown was added by Pope Boniface VIII in A.D. 1298 to represent his spiritual dominion. By A.D. 1315, the triregno appears in the documentation of the Papal Treasury. Source: The Church Visible, by James-Charles Noonan, Jr., © 1996, published by Viking, the Penquin Group, ISBN 0-670-86745-4, page 189.

In the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., a triple-tiered papal tiara is on permanent display. This tiara is shown here being worn by Pope Paul VI, who offered to sell it to benefit the poor, however Cardinal Spellman of New York persuaded him to donate it to the Catholics of the U.S. in the hope that it would inspire offerings for the world's poor.

Papal Tiara is Persian (Babylonian?) in design. "The origin of the tiara is not known, though it is fashioned after the Persian royal headpiece." Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Revised and Updated, © 1987, by Robert C. Broderick, Editor, Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., ISBN 0-8407-5544-9, p. 579.

On the left is a jewel encrusted triregno tiara that is regularly used to dress the statue of Peter in St. Peter's Basilica. The Catholic Church apparently has as many as nine papal tiaras, several of which are shown in this article. Pope John Paul I and then John Paul II, in 1978, both refused a formal coronation ceremony with the triple-tiered crown, as it was considered to be out of step with the less pompous tone set by their predecessor Pope Paul VI and Vatican II's recent emphasis on the pastoral role of the Papacy, rather than its temporal authority. However, nothing really prevents the next Pope from returning to the tradition of the coronation and wearing of the triregno crown.

From Rome In Colour Copyright by Casa Editrice Lozzi, Rome

THE KEYS OF AUTHORITY

Did you notice the two keys in JP II's coat of arms? Those represent the keys to the kingdom, the assumed authority to bind and loose claimed by the Papacy from the book of Matthew-

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Let's look at this passage in detail-

Verse 15 - Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is.

Verse 16 - Simon Peter (Cephas) answers that he knows Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, the very Son of the Living God. This is the very foundation of the Gospel message. Jesus is the Messiah.

Verse 17 - Jesus responds that the ONLY reason that Peter knows this is because it has been revealed to him by none other than God the Father.

Verse 18 - Continuing, Jesus remarks to Peter that upon the rock of His true identity, Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus the long awaited Messiah, Jesus the salvation of all mankind, Jesus the one mediator for mankind, upon this foundation stone of fact the church of faithful believers will surely overcome sin and death (hell). That is, after all, the promise of John 3:16 isn't it? The Catholic Church appeals to this same verse to say that Peter is the foundation of the Church, and that his Papal office is declared here. This is a substitution of the Papacy in place of the Gospel message, yet again.

Verse 19 - The Papacy presumes that in this verse Jesus bestowed on Peter the absolute right and authority to govern the church as he (Peter) deemed appropriate, and that God would back him up, and his successors, in all they do in His name with that authority. But there is another interpretation that is not nearly so generous in it's scope-

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall (first) be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall (first) be loosed in heaven.

I believe this verse applies to all Christians, not just Peter. The word of God is the limiting factor in our authority. We only have authority to declare to the world what God's word reveals to us in His scriptures. As an example, the Christian can declare adultery to be a sin, condemned by God, but only because God himself declares this in His scriptures. But, beyond the clear written word of God, though, the Christian has no right to go. That is entirely different from the Catholic interpretation of absolute God-like unerring power presumed by the Papacy.

So, to make it clear, just what is (are) the key(s) to the kingdom? Well, how will any mortal human being enter into the kingdom? By faith. Faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ, the Rock of our Salvation. Peter had the Gospel message revealed to him by God the Father, the very keys to the kingdom to all who believe. Peter's charge was to "feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17); proclaim what the Father had made known to him, that Jesus was the Messiah, and that He (Jesus) is the only way to overcome sin. It is a duty and responsibility levied on all who know the Gospel message. And how do we know the true Gospel message today? The Bible reveals it to us through the Holy Spirit.

So to wrap up Matt 16, I have just shown you a rational and valid interpretation that completely negates the Catholic claim of infallible vested Papal authority and the Petrine theory of Apostolic succession. They are pure invention, a fabrication not even dreamed of until a couple of hundred years after the time of Christ, when the church was trying to establish the authority of the Bishop of Rome over the Church. In the place of the Gospel message, the Catholic Church claims a blanket infallible Papal authority to proclaim Tradition. Again a substitution of the Papacy for the Gospel message. That process is called AntiChrist.

It is worth noting that the book of Mark relates the same conversation Jesus had with the disciples beginning in chapter 8, verse 27, and Mark curiously overlooks Peter's alleged investiture as Pope. Why? Surely if Mark knew Peter to be the visible head of the church, this is a remarkable and inexcusable omission on his part. So, because of the omission, it is apparent that Mark knew nothing of Peter's alleged supreme authority over the church.

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Please take careful note of the following six items.

No Pope before Gregory the Great (590–604) claimed "Universality".

For, as your venerable Holiness knows, this name of Universality was offered by the holy synod of Chalcedon to the pontiff of the Apostolic See which by the providence of God I serve(2). But no one of my predecessors has ever consented to use this so profane a title; since, forsooth, if one Patriarch is called Universal, the name of Patriarch in the case of the rest is derogated. But far be this, far be it from the mind of a Christian, that any one should wish to seize for himself that whereby he might seem in the least degree to lessen the honour of his brethren. While, then, we are unwilling to receive this honour when offered to us, think how disgraceful it is for any one to have wished to usurp it to himself perforce.

Wherefore let not your Holiness in your epistles ever call any one Universal, lest you detract from the honour due to yourself in offering to another what is not due.

Source: BOOK V, EPISTLE XLIII: TO EULOGIUS AND ANASTASIUS, BISHOPS from Pope Gregory the Great (590–604), online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

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Pope Gregory the Great renounces the title "Universal Pope".

Your Blessedness has also been careful to declare that you do not now make use of proud titles, which have sprung from a root of vanity, in writing to certain persons, and you address me saying, As you have commanded. This word, command, I beg you to remove from my hearing, since I know who I am, and who you are. For in position you are my brethren, in character my fathers. I did not, then, command, but was desirous of indicating what seemed to be profitable. Yet I do not find that your Blessedness has been willing to remember perfectly this very thing that I brought to your recollection. For I said that neither to me nor to any one else ought you to write anything of the kind; and lo, in the preface of the epistle which you have addressed to myself who forbade it, you have thought fit to make use of a proud appellation, calling me Universal Pope. But I beg your most sweet Holiness to do this no more, since what is given to another beyond what reason demands is subtracted from yourself. For as for me, I do not seek to be prospered by words but by my conduct. Nor do I regard that as an honour whereby I know that my brethren lose their honour. For my honour is the honour of the universal Church: my honour is the solid vigour of my brethren. Then am I truly honoured when the honour due to all and each is not denied them. For if your Holiness calls me Universal Pope, you deny that you are yourself what you call me universally. But far be this from us. Away with words that inflate vanity and wound charity.

And, indeed, in the synod of Chalcedon and afterwards by subsequent Fathers, your Holiness knows that this was offered to my predecessors(1). And yet not one of them would ever use this title, that, while regarding the honour of all priests in this world, they might keep their own before Almighty God.

Source: BOOK VIII, EPISTLE XXX: TO EULOGIUS, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

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Pope Gregory the Great criticizes use of the title "Universal Bishop"
and denies Peter was a "Universal Apostle".

For to all who know the Gospel it is apparent that by the Lord's voice the care of the whole Church was committed to the holy Apostle and Prince of all the Apostles, Peter. For to him it is said, Peter, lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep (John xxi. 17). To him it is said, Behold Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat; and I have prayed for thee, Peter, that they faith fail not. And thou, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke xxii. 31). To him it is said, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind an earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven (Matth. xvi. 18).

Lo, he received the keys of the heavenly kingdom, and power to bind and loose is given him, the care and principality of the whole Church is committed to him, and yet he is not called the universal apostle; while the most holy man, my fellow-priest John, attempts to be called universal bishop. I am compelled to cry out and say, O tempora, O mores!

Source: BOOK V, EPISTLE XX: TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS from Pope Gregory the Great (590–604), online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

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Pope Gregory the Great calls the title Universal "pestiferous".

... Be it known then to your Fraternity that John, formerly bishop of the city of Constantinople, against God, against the peace of the Church, to the contempt and injury of all priests, exceeded the bounds of modesty and of his own measure, and unlawfully usurped in synod the proud and pestiferous title of oecumenical, that is to say, universal. ...

... I exhort and entreat that not one of you ever accept this name, that not one consent to it, that not one write it, that not one admit it wherever it may have been written, or add his subscription to it; but, as becomes ministers of Almighty God, that each keep himself from this kind of poisoned infection, and give no place to the cunning lier-in-wait, since this thing is being done to the injury and rendering asunder of the whole Church, and, as we have said, to the condemning of all of you. For if one, as he supposes, is universal bishop, it remains that you are not bishops. ...

Source: BOOK IX, EPISTLE LXVIII TO EUSEBIUS OF THESSALONICA from Pope Gregory the Great (590–604), online at New Advent.

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Pope Gregory the Great declares title "Universal Priest" to be Antichrist.

Whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others. Nor is it by dissimilar pride that he is led into error; for, as that perverse one wishes to appear as God above all men, so whosoever this one is who covets being called sole priest, he extols himself above all other priests.

Source: Pope Gregory the Great (590–604), Letter to Emperor Mauricius Augustus (against assumption of title “universal” by Patriarch of Constantinople) in his Epistles, bk. 7, letter 33, trans. in NPNF, 2d series, Vol. 12, p. 226 (2d pagination).

Here is the above BOOK VII, EPISTLE XXXIII: TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

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Pope Gregory the Great condemned the titles of Universal Patriarch, Universal Pope, Universal Bishop and Universal Priest. He saw that such pomposity was satanic or antichrist in nature. In any case, Pope Boniface III (607 A.D.), a mere three years after the death of Gregory, petitioned Emperor Phocus to declare the Roman See the head of all Christian churches and that the title Universal Bishop would apply exclusively to the Bishop of Rome. This was done in an attempt to end the ambitions of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

See Boniface III online at New Advent.

Emperor Phocus granted the request, and a grateful Boniface III erected a gilded statue of him in Rome proclaiming his greatness.

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Donation of Constantine to the "Universal Pope" of Rome.

... Our most gracious serenity desires, in clear discourse, through the page of this our imperial decree, to bring to the knowledge of all the people in the whole world what things our Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the most High Father, has most wonderfully seen fit to bring about through his holy apostles Peter and Paul and by the intervention of our father Sylvester, the highest pontiff and the universal pope. First, indeed, putting forth, with the inmost confession of our heart, for the purpose of instructing the mind of all of you, our creed which we have learned from the aforesaid most blessed father and our confessor, Sylvester the universal pontiff; and then at length announcing the mercy of God which has been poured upon us. ...

For let all the people and the nations of the races in the whole world rejoice with us; we exhorting all of you to give unbounded thanks, together with us, to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For He is God in Heaven above and on earth below, who, visiting us through His holy apostles, made us worthy to receive the holy sacrament of baptism and health of body. In return for which, to those same holy apostles, my masters, St. Peter and St. Paul; and, through them, also to St. Sylvester, our father, -the chief pontiff and universal pope of the city of Rome, -and to all the pontiffs his successors, who until the end of the world shall be about to sit in the seat of St. Peter: we concede and, by this present, do confer, our imperial Lateran palace, which is preferred to, and ranks above, all the palaces in the whole world; then a diadem, that is, the crown of our head, and at the same time the tiara; and, also, the shoulder band, -that is, the collar that usually surrounds our imperial neck; and also the purple mantle, and crimson tunic, and all the imperial raiment; and the same rank as those presiding over the imperial cavalry; conferring also the imperial sceptres, and, at the same time, the spears and standards; also the banners and different imperial ornaments, and all the advantage of our high imperial position, and the glory of our power.

Donation of Constantine

Though proved a forgery in the 15th century, the use of the phrase "universal pope" in the Donation of Constantine shows the title was attributed to the Bishop of Rome in the 8th century. For centuries, the Donation of Constantine was held to be genuine by the Catholic Church.

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Now note that Pope Gregory VII also declared himself to be "Universal Pope", a title which Gregory the Great refused and condemned. This papal claim has been maintained or embellished on by every subsequent pope, eventually leading to the declaration of papal infallibility.

THE DICTATES OF HILDERBRAND (POPE GREGORY VII)

1. That the Roman Church was founded by the Lord alone. 2. That the Roman Pontiff alone is justly called universal. 3. That he alone can depose bishops or restore them … 9. That all princes should kiss the feet of the pope alone… 12. That it is lawful for him to depose emperors … 18. That his sentence ought not to be reviewed by any one; and he alone can review [the decisions] of all. 19. That he ought to be judged by no one … 22. That the Roman Church never erred; nor will it, according to Scripture, ever err … 27. That he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous [rulers].

John XXIII Pontifex Maximus Attualità Giordani, Rome

Source: Gregory VII (1073-1085 A.D.), Dictatus Papae (“Dictates of the Pope”; sometimes called the Dictates of Hilderbrand), Latin text in Karl Hofmann, Der Dictatus Papae Gregors VII (Paderborn [Germany]: Ferdinand Schöningh, 1933), p. 11.

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Bull of Pope Innocent IV Deposing Emperor Frederick II

... We [Pope Innocent IV] therefore, after careful discussion with our brother cardinals and the sacred council [Lyons, 1245 A.D.] on his [Emperor Frederick II] wicked transgressions already mentioned and many more besides, since though unworthy we hold on earth the place of Jesus Christ, and to us in the person of the blessed apostle Peter has been said, whatever you bind on earth etc., denounce the said prince, who has made himself so unworthy of the empire and kingdoms and every honour and dignity and who also, because of his crimes, has been cast out by God from kingdom and empire; we mark him out as bound by his sins, an outcast and deprived by our Lord of every honour and dignity; and we deprive him of them by our sentence. We absolve from their oath for ever all those who are bound to him by an oath of loyalty, firmly forbidding by our apostolic authority anyone in the future to obey or heed him as emperor or king, and decreeing that anyone who henceforth offers advice, help or favour to him as to an emperor or king, automatically incurs excommunication. Let those whose task it is to choose an emperor in the same empire, freely choose a successor to him. With regard to the aforesaid kingdom of Sicily, we shall take care to provide, with the counsel of our brother cardinals, as we see to be expedient.

Given at Lyons on 17 July in the third year of our pontificate [1245 A.D.].

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Claims of “I Am Caesar” (Boniface VIII)

The papal theory … made the Pope alone God’s representative on earth and maintained that the Emperor received his right to rule from St. Peter’s successor… It was upheld by Nicholas I., Hildebrand, Alexander III., Innocent III., and culminated with Boniface VIII. at the jubilee of 1300 when, seated on the throne of Constantine, girded with the imperial sword, wearing a crown, and waving a sceptre, he shouted to the throng of loyal pilgrims: “I am Caesar—I am Emperor.”

Pius XII Pontifex Maximus Wide World Photos, Inc.

Source: Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church (reprint; New York: Burt Franklin, [1959]), p. 413.

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Obedience to the Pope declared necessary for Salvation

We, moreover, proclaim, declare and pronounce that it is altogether necessary to salvation for every human being to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.

Source: Pope Boniface VIII, Bull Unam Sanctam, promulgated November 18, 1302, in Translations and Reprints From the Original Sources of European History, Vol. 3 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 189–), No. 6, pp. 20–23 (from Latin text of Mury, Revue des Questions Historiques, Vol. 46, pp. 225, 256, based on the facsimile from the Papal Regesta).

Liberally minded Catholic apologists will sometimes suggest that Boniface VIII meant to apply his remark only to Catholics, and that Protestants are not automatically excluded from salvation by it. However the Latin text (in David S. Schaff, The Middle Ages [Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 5. New York: Scribner, 1910], part 2, p. 28) reads omni humanae creaturae (“every human creature"). The title of the bull, Unam Sanctum (One Holy Church) and its last sentence make clear that Boniface VIII was declaring that submission to the Pope of the Holy See of Rome of the Catholic Church was the only means of salvation and that those resisting that presumed authority were lost souls. Conservative traditional Catholics will staunchly defend the statement that "Outside the Catholic Church there is no Salvation", and will cite Unam Sanctam as proof positive.

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Pope Claims Primacy Over the World.

We likewise define that the holy Apostolic See, and the Roman Pontiff, hold the primacy throughout the entire world; and that the Roman Pontiff himself is the successor of blessed Peter, the chief of the Apostles, and the true vicar of Christ, and that he is the head of the entire Church, and the father and teacher of all Christians; and that full power was given to him in blessed Peter by Our Lord Jesus Christ, to feed, rule, and govern the universal Church; just as is contained in the acts of the ecumenical Councils and in the sacred canons."

Source: Pope Eugene IV, Papal Bull Laetentur Coeli, dated July 6th, 1439, Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, Translated by Roy J. Deferrari, from the Thirtieth Edition of Henry Denzinger's Enchiridion Symbolorum, published by B. Herder Book Co., Copyright 1957, page 220, #694.
See also Council of Basle, Ferara, and Florence, Session 6, 6 July 1439.

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Papacy Claims Authority Over the Kings of the Earth

Above photo from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by Le Roy E. Froom,
published by Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington D.C., Copyright 1948, Volume II, page 556.

On the above papal medal issued by Pope Callistus III (1455-58), the reverse side reads OMNES REGES SERVIENT EI, a quote of Daniel 7:27 from the Latin Vulgate, which when translated in the Catholic Douay Rheims reads "ALL KINGS SHALL SERVE HIM". The scripture refers to God, but the papal triple-tiered tiara portrayed above the cross clearly symbolizes the papacy as God's designated authority on earth, to whom all kings will be obedient.

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Martin Luther on Papal Infallibility

[p. 69] They assume authority, and juggle before us with impudent words, saying that the Pope cannot err in matters of faith, whether he be evil or good, albeit they cannot prove it by a single letter… We will quote the Scriptures. St. Paul says, “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace” (1 Cor. 14:30). What would be the use of this commandment, if we were to believe him alone that teaches or has the highest seat? Christ Himself says, “And they shall be all taught of God” (John 6:45). Thus it may come to pass that the Pope and his followers are wicked and not true Christians, and not being taught by God, have no true understanding, whereas a common man may have true understanding. Why should we then not follow him? Has not the Pope often erred? … Therefore it is a wickedly devised fable—and they cannot quote a single letter to confirm it—that it is for the Pope alone to interpret [p. 70] the Scriptures or to confirm the interpretation of them. They have assumed the authority of their own selves. And though they say that this authority was given to St. Peter when the keys were given to him, it is plain enough that the keys were not given to St. Peter alone, but to the whole community.

Source: Luthers Werke (Erlangen, 1828–1870), trans. and ed. by H. Wace and C. A. Buckheim in First Principles of the Reformation (Philadelphia, 1885), pp. 159–239, passim. Reprinted in Louis L. Snyder, ed., Documents of German History (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1958), pp. 69, 70. Copyright © 1958 by Rutgers, The State University.

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Martin Luther also wrote-

"I now know for certain that the papacy is the kingdom of Babylon and the power of Nimrod, the mighty hunter (Gen. 10:8-9)."

Source: Martin Luther's The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520), in Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings, edited by Timothy F. Lull, published by Fortress Press, © 1989, ISBN 0-8006-2327-4, page 268.

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Papal Infallibility Denied as Catholic Dogma Before 1870

   Q. Must not Catholics believe the Pope in himself to be infallible?
   A. This is a Protestant invention; it is no article of the Catholic faith; no decision of his can oblige, under pain of heresy, unless it be received and enforced by the teaching body, that is, by the Bishops of the Church.

Sources: A Doctrinal Catechism, by the Rev. Stephen Keenan, approved by the Most Rev. John Hughes, D.D., Archbishop of New York, Second American Edition, published in New York by E. Dunigan & Brother, (James B. Kirker), No. 371 Broadway, Copyright 1848, pages 305-306.
Controversial Catechism or Protestantism Refuted, by the Rev. Stephen Keenan, Second Edition, published in 1851 in Edinburgh; by C. Dolman, 13 South Hanover Street, and 61, New Bond Street, London, page 102. The original First Edition was published in Edinburgh in 1846.

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   Q. Do you here suppose the teachers individually infallible, or that they are free personally from all sin and error?
   A. By no means; philosophically speaking, if all the bishops of the Church, scattered over all the nations of the earth, all men of learning and probity, who have never seen one another,—who have had no means of combining to teach any particular doctrine,—and who have had no motive for such, do actually teach the very same truths, then we maintain, by all laws of human evidence or moral certainty, that their combined testimony to the existence of any doctrine infallibly proves its truth.

Source: A Doctrinal Catechism, by the Rev. Stephen Keenan, approved by the Most Rev. John Hughes, D.D., Archbishop of New York, Second American Edition, published in New York by E. Dunigan & Brother, (James B. Kirker), No. 371 Broadway, Copyright 1848, page 369. (The identical text appears on pages 67-68 of the 1851 Edinburgh Second Edition, and also on page 77 of the 1896 London revised New Edition.)

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Prelude To Dogmatic Papal Infallibility

10. ... God Himself has set up a living authority to establish and teach the true and legitimate meaning of His heavenly revelation. This authority judges infallibly all disputes which concern matters of faith and morals, lest the faithful be swirled around by every wind of doctrine which springs from the evilness of men in encompassing error. And this living infallible authority is active only in that Church which was built by Christ the Lord upon Peter, the head of the entire Church, leader and shepherd, whose faith He promised would never fail. This Church has had an unbroken line of succession from Peter himself; these legitimate pontiffs are the heirs and defenders of the same teaching, rank, office and power. And the Church is where Peter is,[5] and Peter speaks in the Roman Pontiff,[6] living at all times in his successors and making judgment,[7] providing the truth of the faith to those who seek it.[8] The divine words therefore mean what this Roman See of the most blessed Peter holds and has held.

Source: QUI PLURIBUS, On Faith And Religion, Encyclical of Pope Pius IX, November 9, 1846.

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Recognition of Papal jurisdiction declared necessary for Salvation

1827 Furthermore We teach and declare that the Roman Church, by the disposition of the Lord, holds the sovereignty of ordinary power over all others, and that this power of jurisdiction on the part of the Roman Pontiff, which is truly episcopal, is immediate; and with respect to this the pastors and the faithful of whatever right and dignity, both as separate individuals and all together, are bound by the duty of hierarchical subordination and true obedience, not only in things which pertain to faith and morals, but also in those which pertain to the discipline and government of the Church [which is] spread over the whole world, so that the Church of Christ, protected not only by the Roman Pontiff, but by the unity of communion as well as of the profession of the same faith is one flock under one highest shepherd. This is the doctrine of Catholic truth from which no one can deviate and keep his faith and salvation.

Source: Dogmatic Constitution I on the Church of Christ [Vatican I - Pius IX], Session IV, July 18th 1870, Chapter 3., The Power and Manner of the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff, Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, Translated by Roy J. Deferrari, from the Thirtieth Edition of Henry Denzinger's Enchiridion Symbolorum, published by B. Herder Book Co., Copyright 1957, page 454, #1827.

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Papal Claim of Infallibility Declared Dogmatically.

Pius IX Pontifex Maximus

Therefore faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Saviour, the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and the salvation of Christian people, the sacred Council approving, we teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Re- [p. 271] deemer willed that his Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church.

But if any one—which may God avert—presume to contradict this our definition: let him be anathema. Given at Rome in public Session solemnly held in the Vatican Basilica in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, on the eighteenth day of July, in the twenty-fifth year of our Pontificate.

Source: Vatican Council, Session IV (July 18, 1870), First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ (Pastor Aeternus), chap. IV, Concerning the Infallible Teaching of the Roman Pontiff, in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (New York: Harper, 1919), Vol. 2, pp. 266–271.

The above gilt papal medal of Pius IX from 1877 depicts on the reverse the Pope enthroned wearing the triple tiara, with five figures paying homage, and is inscribed with a quote of Joel 2:23 from the Latin Vulgate, which the Douay Rheims translates to:

Joel 2:23 ... be joyful in the Lord your God: because he hath given you a teacher of justice ...

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Significance of Papal Infallibility Dogma

[p. 164] The dogma of Papal Infallibility … involves a question of absolute power… [p. 165] It is the direct antipode of the Protestant principle of the absolute supremacy and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures. It establishes a perpetual divine oracle in the Vatican. Every Catholic may hereafter say, I believe—not because Christ, or the Bible, or the Church, but—because the infallible Pope has so declared and commanded… If the dogma is false, it involves a blasphemous assumption, and makes the nearest approach to the fulfillment of St. Paul’s prophecy of the man of sin, who ‘as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself off that he is God’ (2 Thess. ii. 4).

Source: Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (4th ed., rev.; New York: Harper, 1919), Vol. 1, pp. 164, 165.

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Keenan's Catechism Changes It's Tune

Subsequent to Vatican I and the declaration of papal Infallibility, Keenan's Catechism, third American Edition, was revised:

   Q. Do you here suppose the teachers individually infallible?
   A. The Pope as the constant head of the Church we hold infallible in decisions ex cathedra: but not exempt from falling into personal sin. The various bishops are neither individually infallible or sinless. But we may argue that if the Pope and the various bishop teach any particular doctrine,—men who have had no motive for such, do actually teach the very same truths, then we maintain, by all laws of human evidence or moral certainty, that their combined testimony to the existence of any doctrine infallibly proves its truth.

Source: A Doctrinal Catechism, by the Rev. Stephen Keenan, Imprimatur by John Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York, Third American Edition, Copyright 1876 by T. W. Strong, published in New York by P. J. Kenedy, Excelsior Catholic Publishing House, page 369.
A Doctrinal Catechism, (complete text of 1876 Third American edition) online.  See also pages 170-171 on papal infallibility.

In the 1896 London revised New Edition, Keenan's Catechism gave the following explanation:

    Q. But some Catholics before the Vatican Council denied the Infallibility of the Pope, which was also formerly impugned in this very Catechism: (Controversial Catechism, Edition Edinburgh, 1846, p. 117).
    A. Yes; but they did so under the usual reservation—"in so far as they then could grasp the mind of the Church, and subject to her future definitions"—thus implicitly accepting the dogma; had they been prepared to maintain their own opinion contumaciously in such case they would have been Catholics only in name.

Source: Controversial Catechism or Protestantism Refuted, by the Rev. Stephen Keenan, New Edition, revised by the Rev. George Cormack, published in 1896 in London by Burns & Oates, Limited - in New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago by Benzinger Brothers, page 112.

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The Coronation of Pope Leo XIII, March 3rd, 1878.

The solemn moment has arrived. The Pope again ascends the throne, while the choir sings the antiphon, Corona aurea super caput ejus. The subdeacon of the Sacred college, Cardinal di Pietro, intones the Pater noster, and afterwards reads the prayer, Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, dignitas Sacerdotii, etc. The Second deacon removes the mitre from the head of the Pontiff, and Cardinal Mertel approaches, bearing the tiara. Placing it on the head of the Pope, he says:

Accipe thiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse Patrem Principipum et Regnum, Rectorem Orbis, in terra Vicarium Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in sæcula sœculorum.

[Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of Princes and Kings, Ruler of the World, Vicar of Our Savior Jesus Christ on earth, to him be the honor and glory forever and ever.]

Source: Catholic World, Volume 27, Issue 158, May 1878, The Coronation of Pope Leo XIII, page 282, Making of America, University of Michigan.

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Color print declaring Leo XIII Lumen Coeli, Latin for the "Light of Heaven".

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THE NATION AND KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE ME WILL PERISH

The above papal medal from the 2nd year of the reign of Pope Leo XIII (1879) is inscribed on the reverse with the Latin phrase GENS ET REGNUM QUOD NON SERVIERIT MIHI PERIBIT, which translates to: THE NATION AND KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE ME WILL PERISH, which seems to be a very close parallel with Jeremiah 27:8-10 from the Latin Vulgate. The figure on the reverse is that of the church depicted as a papal tiara crowned queen, sitting on her throne, which calls to mind Revelation 18:7- How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

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Claims of Obedience to Pope as to God (Leo XIII) 22. ... But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires, together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, as to God Himself.
	Leo XIII Pontifex Maximus

Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, Sapientiae Christianae (On the Chief Duties of Christians as Citizens), dated January 10, 1890, trans. in The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 193.

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Leo XIII Pontifex Maximus	Pope Leo XIII Claims to hold the place of God on Earth. ... We [the pope] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty, ... Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter Praeclara Gratulationis Publicae (The Reunion of Christendom), dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), paragraph 5, page 304.

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Pope Leo XIII Affirms Supreme Universal Papal Authority
9. ... But he who dissents even in one point from divinely revealed truth absolutely rejects all faith, since he thereby refuses to honour God as the supreme truth and the formal motive of faith. ...
13. ... the Pontiffs who succeed Peter in the Roman Episcopate receive the supreme power in the church, jure divino. "We define" (declare the Fathers of the Council of Florence) "that the Holy and Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff hold the primacy of the Church throughout the whole world: and that the same Roman Pontiff is the successor of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, and the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the whole Church, and the father and teacher of all Christians; and that full power was given to him, in Blessed Peter, by our Lord Jesus Christ to feed, to rule, and to govern the universal Church, as is also contained in the acts of ecumenical councils and in the sacred canons" (Conc. Florentinum). Similarly the Fourth Council of Lateran declares: "The Roman Church, as the mother and mistress of all the faithful, by the will of Christ obtains primacy of jurisdiction over all other Churches." These declarations were preceded by the consent of antiquity which ever acknowledged, without the slightest doubt or hesitation, the Bishops of Rome, and revered them, as the legitimate successors of St. Peter. ... 15. ... But the authority of the Roman Pontiff is supreme, universal, independent; that of the bishops limited, and dependent. ...	Leo XIII Pontifex Maximus

Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter SATIS COGNITUM (On the Unity of the Church), June 29, 1896.

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Does the pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks! The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself, hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks. Does the pope accord a favour or pronounce an anathema? It is Jesus Christ who accords the favour or pronounces that anathema. So that when the pope speaks we have no business to examine.

Pope Pius X Photo copyright 1914 by Underwood &Underwood

Frequently quoted, this blasphemous claim is attributed to Cardinal Giuseppe Melchior Sarto, then Archbishop of Venice (1893-1903), who later became Pope Pius X (1903-1914), and was apparently first cited in the Catholique Nationale of Paris, July 13, 1895 and again later that year in England, in the Protestant Church Review of October 3, 1895. See also Volume 2 of Radio Replies by Fathers Rumble and Carty, which claims it to be a misquote, and that Cardinal Sarto actually said the following:

"The Pope represents Jesus Christ Himself, and therefore is a loving father. The life of the Pope is a holocaust of love for the human family. His word is love; love, his weapon; love, the answer he gives to all who hate him; love, his flag, i.e., the Cross, which signed the greatest triumph on earth and in heaven."

Source: Radio Replies, Second Volume, by Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C. and Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty, Copyright 1940, printed by Radio Replies Press, St. Paul 1, Minn., U.S.A., #310, page 84.

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The Pope is the ruler of the world.

Tell us we are Catholics first and Americans or Englishmen afterwards; of course we are. Tell us, in the conflict between the church and the civil government we take the side of the church; of course we do. Why, if the government of the United States were at war with the church, we would say tomorrow, to hell with the government of the United States; and if the church and all the governments of the world were at war, we would say, to hell with all the governments of the world. * * * Why is it that in this country where we have only seven per cent of the population, the Catholic church is so much feared? She is loved by all her children and feared by everybody. Why is it the Pope has such tremendous power? Why, the Pope is the ruler of the world. All the emperors, all the kings, all the princes, all the presidents of the world are as these altar boys of mine. The Pope is the ruler of the world.

Source: The Western Watchman, a paper published in St. Louis by Father D. S. Phelan, June 27th, 1912.

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Papal Sovereignty Claimed Over All the People of the World.

67. ... the hand of God, who guides the course of history, has set down the Chair of His Vicar on earth, in this city of Rome which, from being the capital of the wonderful Roman Empire, was made by Him the capital of the whole world, because He made it the seat of a sovereignty which, since it extends beyond the confines of nations and states, embraces within itself all the peoples of the whole world. The very origin and divine nature of this sovereignty demands, the inviolable rights of conscience of millions of the faithful of the whole world demand that this sacred sovereignty must not be, neither must it ever appear to be, subject to any human authority or law whatsoever, even though that law be one which proclaims certain guaranties for the liberty of the Roman Pontiff. Source: Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Letter UBI ARCANO DEI CONSILIO (On the Peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ), December 23, 1922.

Pius XI Pontifex Maximus

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The above papal medal was issued by Pope Pius XI in celebration of the Lateran Treaty of 1929, by which Vatican City was formally recognized again as a political state, with the Pope as its absolute monarch. A bust of the pope is on the front, and on the reverse is the apostle Peter, with the keys of authority, depicted as having global dominion from his seat, the Vatican City, Rome. As the successor of Peter, Pius XI by this medal was symbolically affirming himself to be the ruler of the world, and Vatican City to be its capital, as plainly stated in his encyclical of 1922, cited above. The papal medal shown below, also dated 1929, depicts Pius XI as Pontifex Maximus, wearing the kingly triregno tiara.

Pius XI Declares the Roman Catholic Priest "another Christ".

12. ... Thus the priest, as is said with good reason, is indeed "another Christ"; for, in some way, he is himself a continuation of Christ. ... Source: Pope Pius XI, Encyclical AD CATHOLICI SACERDOTII (On the Catholic Priesthood), promulgated on 20 December 1935. John 10:30 I and my Father are one. John 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Pius XI Pontifex Maximus

Submission to Papal Authority
Must Extend Beyond Infallible "Ex Cathedra" Decrees.

25. ... This religious submission of mind and will must be shown in a special way to the authentic magisterium [teaching authority] of the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra; that is, it must be shown is such a way that his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence, the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will. His mind and will in the matter may be known either from the character of the documents, from his frequent repetition of the same doctrine, or from his manner of speaking. ...

Source: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964, published by St. Paul Books & Media, Daughters of St. Paul, 50 St. Paul's Ave., Boston, Ma. 02130.

The papal mitre (left) and triregno tiara (right) in procession during the Second Vatican Council.
	IMMAGINI DEL CONCILIO: CITTA DEL VATICANO: 1966 Press Office of the Ecumenical Council.

THE SUPREME PONTIFF - PONTIFEX MAXIMUS
Pontifex Maximus: a Pagan Title of the Roman Emperor.

[p. 306] The Edict of Milan (313), issued jointly by Constantine and Licinius, proclaimed liberty of conscience and showed partiality for Christianity. His policy at first was not to interfere with pagan worship, but by filling the chief offices with Christians and surrounding himself with Christian teachers to make the condition of Christians enviable… He … [p. 307] enjoined the civil observance of Sunday, though only as the day of the Sun, and in connection with an ordinance requiring the consultation of the soothsayer (321)…As the Roman emperor was Pontifex Maximus of the pagan State religion, he would naturally assume the same relation to Christianity when it became predominant. This headship the gratitude of the Christians heartily accorded. In all of his dealings with Christian matters the supreme motive seems to have been that of securing unity. About doctrinal differences he was almost indifferent. But he dreaded dissension among those on whom he depended for the support of his government.

John XXIII Pontifex Maximus Photo by Felici, Roma

Source: Albert Henry Newman, A Manual of Church History, Vol. 1 (rev. ed.; Philadelphia: The American Baptist Publication Society), pp. 306, 307. Copyright 1933 by The Judson Press, Philadelphia.

Above you see a Denarius or "Tribute Penny" minted at Lugdunum (Lyon) during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14-37 A.D.) The obverse with Tiberius' bust is inscribed TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. The reverse is inscribed PONTIF MAXIM and depicts the emperor's mother Livia as Pax (peace) holding an olive-branch and long vertical scepter. This is the type of coin mentioned in Matt 22:19, Mark 12:15, and Luke 20:24. If someone had asked the apostle Peter who the "Pontifex Maximus" was, he would likely have shown them a tribute penny like that above and replied "The Roman Emperor". Peter would not have known of any other application of the title.

Now below is a very similar papal medal proclaiming Pope John XXIII, the claimed successor to Peter, to be the reigning "Pontifex Maximus" on the front (appropriately wearing the triregno crown) and "Obedience and Peace" on the reverse.

Unity with the Roman Pontiff Necessary to Salvation

"The Saviour Himself is the door of the sheepfold: 'I am the door of the sheep.' Into this fold of Jesus Christ, no man may enter unless he be led by the Sovereign Pontiff; and only if they be united to him can men be saved, for the Roman Pontiff is the Vicar of Christ and His personal representative on earth."

Source: Pope John XXIII, homily to the Bishops and faithful assisting at his coronation on November 4, 1958, Papal Teachings: The Church, Benedictine Monks of Solesmes, Boston, St. Paul Editions, 1962, par. 1556.

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Papal Rome a Continuation of the Roman Empire

[p. 269] Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left … [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the Emperor’s disappearance… [p. 270] The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation; the empire has not perished, but has only undergone a transformation… That is no mere “clever remark,” but the recognition of the true state of the matter historically, and the most appropriate and fruitful way of describing the character of this Church. It still governs the nations… It is a political creation, and as imposing as a World-Empire, because the continuation of the Roman Empire, the Pope, who calls himself “King” and “Pontifex Maximus,” is Caesar’s successor.

Source: Adolf Harnack, What Is Christianity? trans. by Thomas Bailey Saunders (2d ed., rev.; New York: Putnam, 1901), pp. 269, 270. [Ernest Benn Ltd., London, has recently published a new edition of this book.]

The Papal title of Pontiff originated with the Caesars of Rome, which declared Caesar to be the head of the Sun worshipping Pagan church. This title was adopted by the Bishop of Rome with the demise of the Roman empire, and it makes the Pope the head of the pagan church of Rome.

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Pope John Paul II claims to take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth.

From "Crossing The Threshold of Hope", by Pope John Paul II, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., copyright 1994 by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, ISBN 0-679-76561-1, First Chapter, "The Pope": A Scandal and a Mystery -

First Chapter: "The Pope": A Scandal and a Mystery:

The Pope is considered the man on earth who represents the Son of God, who "takes the place" of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity. [pg. 3]

The Pope is not the only one who holds this title. With regard to the Church entrusted to him, each bishop is Vicarius Christi. [pg. 13]

If you translate "represents the Son of God" into Latin, the official language of the Church, you get Vicarius Filii Dei, which in Roman Numerals will add up to 666. John Paul II also claims to "take the place" of Christ, which in Latin is Vicarius Christi, which has precisely the same meaning as the word AntiChrist.

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Acts 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

While Peter prohibited Cornelius from prostrating himself before him in worship, Peter's claimed successor;  Pope John Paul II, in striking contradiction, has his new Bishops prostrate themselves before him in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, at the alleged tomb of Peter, during their ordination ceremony.

Passional Christ and	Antichrist
Christ washes his disciples feet.	The Pope demands his feet be kissed.

The above woodcuts are from Passional of Christ and Antichrist of 1521, illustrated by Lucas Cranach with captions by Martin Luther. These were the themes of other illustrations:

Christ fled from an earthly crown — Antichrist ever seeks earthly dominion
Christ is given a crown of thorns — Antichrist wears a triple crown of gold
Christ paid taxes — The Pope is exempt from taxes
Christ lived in humble poverty — Antichrist fares sumptuously
Christ was bowed to earth with the cross — The Pope is carried about in state
Christ rode into Jerusalem on a humble ass — Antichrist rides a beautiful, caparisoned steed
Christ sought neither silver nor gold — Antichrist rules cities and empires
Christ's kingdom was not with observation — Antichrist subjects the whole world
Christ drove out the moneychangers — The Pope sells indulgences.
Christ ascends to heaven — The Pope will descend into hell

Martin Luther summarized in a later edition of Passional of Christ and Antichrist:

"Christ and the pope are here presented opposite each other. Please note the case of each. It will not be difficult for you to decide whether or not the pope is the Antichrist, who is against our Lord Jesus Christ."

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At left: Pope John XXIII enthroned during the opening ceremonies of the Second Vatican Council. 2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

John XXIII Pontifex Maximus Maryknoll Fathers, Maryknoll, N.Y.

Clearly, in light of the above evidence, this passage speaks of the Papacy of the Roman Catholic Church.

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