Conférence liturgie et foi par le R.P. Crignon F.S.V.F.

The Bishop of Rome as the Teacher of the Universal Church

The consequences of always aiming for a global audience?

U.S.: Conservative Catholics not convinced by Bergoglio's approach

Growth of the Papal Office

Robert Louis Wilken, The First Thousand Years: "The Council of Sardica ended in schism, with each side excommunicating the other, but its significance in the history of the papacy far outstrips the ecclesiastical wars of the fourth century. For the bishops gathered there adopted a set of canons affirming that the bishop of Rome would have the privilege of serving as a court of appeal. That is, Rome acquired what has been called "appellate jurisdiction": the right to adjudicate disputes among other bishops. The term 'appellate' is significant; Rome was called upon to act as judge, not as teacher. Only in the fifth century did Rome begin to see itself charged with responsibility to instruct the church at large." (166-7)

Though he became Catholic, Wilken gives a short (too short, in my opinion) summary of the changes in how the bishops of Rome conceived of their role with respect to the Church Universal during the first millenium. He should write a history and development of the papacy as well. The implications of such a history for the ongoing dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox cannot be overstated, since this was what the next step requires.

The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium
Joint Coordinating Committee for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, September 27 - October 4, 2008

"The Pope Is the First Among the Patriarchs." Just How Remains to Be Seen

The teaching role of the bishop of Rome, apart from an ecumenical council, with respect to the Church Universal has consequences on how we are to understand papal infallibility.