I didn't cook this up; I actually learned this from a Catholic friend. He said that the followers may not see it this way (some are totally unaware) but the Church itself does. Then again, he might not know what he's talking about...
The Vicar of Christ (Vicarius Christi)
"Vicar of Christ . . . Title used almost exclusively of the Bishop of Rome as successor of Peter and, therefore, the one in the Church who particularly takes the place of Christ; but used also of bishops in general and even of priests..."
Source: Catholic Dictionary, Peter M.J. Stravinskas, Editor, published by Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., Huntington, 1993, pp. 484-485.
Vicar of Christ
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Article 9)
882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful."402 "For 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."
Random House Unab. Dictionary
Pope Pius
Sorry, but I have to disagree. In particular:
- Vicar here means second-in-command (think vice-president), and successor of Peter (upon this Rock...), not Jesus. Universal power means temporal power - ie if the Pope says to a bishop "you're going to Outer Mongolia", guy's gotta go
. See here. - When I was a little boy I was taught the difference between adoration (worship, reserved to God) and veneration (respect, for the saints or possibly the Pope). See here.
Different strokes for different folks.
All this said in love.
