Vicar of Christ: Is the Pope the Vicar of Christ?

By Mark Swarbrick

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Is the Pope the Vicar of Christ? Catholicism gives the pope the title Vicar of Christ, a title commonly understood to mean that he serves as Christ’s representative on earth. But what does Vicar of Christ mean from a biblical perspective, and does Scripture establish such an office? The title “Vicar of Christ” is nowhere found or taught in the Bible. Instead, Scripture teaches that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to be present with and within believers.

Consider Jesus’ words:

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)

Does the Bible Teach That the Pope Replaces Christ?

Notice that Jesus did not say that when he went away, he would leave a Pope to be on earth “instead” of him. No, the only “Vicar of Christ” or “Instead of Christ” upon earth today is the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ, who lives in the hearts of believers. To look to a Pope as a “Vicar of Christ” is to discount the real presence of Christ in the heart of the believer and to deny the presence of the Spirit of Christ through the Church. Proclaiming a Vicar of Christ is a disavowal of the power of Christ on earth today. And it denies Scripture, which declares:

“Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood…because He always lives to intercede.” (Hebrews 7:24)

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Vicar of Christ and the Pope’s Claim to Authority

The unbiblical title, Vicar of Christ, implies that the bearer has the same jurisdictional power of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus Christ is the one who says He will build His church and Colossians 1:18 declares Christ is head of the Church. Our Lord has never delegated that power and position to anyone else. By claiming the title Vicar of Christ, the reigning pope is in fact, promising to do what Christ promised. The pope is claiming to be the head of the Church, and Catholics the world over see the Pope as exactly that. This is blasphemy.

Make no mistake, the Catholic Church fully embraces this blasphemy. The Catholic catechism teaches: “The Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”  (1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church). There it is: Catholicism claims the Pope is head of the Church, instead of Christ, just as the blasphemous title Vicar of Christ implies.

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