Austin
Dalyai
wrote:
|
|
Hi, guys —
I have been studying the Church for a while
now, and I am considering joining, however,
there is one issue that I can't seem to find
the answer for, and it weighs heavily on my
decision.
When Peter was given the Keys to Heaven, he
was given them directly by Jesus.
- However, in modern times, the successor
Pope isn't known prior to the current Pope's
death, so, when the Pope passes on, what
happens to the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven?
- Are they transferred to the Cardinals
until a new Pope is chosen?
- How does it work in keeping Apostolic
Succession going?
Austin
|
| {
When
the Pope passes on, what happens to the Keys
to the Kingdom of Heaven? }
|
|
Eric
replied:
|
Hi, Austin —
The keys to the kingdom of Heaven
aren't like a kind of mystical hot
potato or magical ring that someone
has to possess. For that matter,
they aren't literal keys. The term
is a Hebrew idiom that refers to
authority and governance. Today we
speak of some well-respected person
being given the keys to the
city. This doesn't refer to
anything that unlocks a door; it's
a symbol meaning that they are welcomed
and honored by the citizens of the
city.
So, when a pope dies, no one has
the keys — no one exercises
papal authority and governance — until
a new pope is elected. (The Camerlengo takes
physical custody of Holy See when
a pope dies.) The keys represent
an office, and when the office is
filled, the new pope ipso facto takes
possession of them.
Eric
|
Mike
replied:
|
Hey Eric,
- Don't they do something with the
Pope's ring?
I forgot the reasoning
and purpose.
Austin,
I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
Mike
|
Eric
replied:
|
Hi, Mike —
They destroy it when the pope dies,
and forge a unique one for the new
pope.
The ring, itself, is merely a symbol of his office.
It may serve as a seal as well (though
I have no clue if they still use
wax seals).
Eric
|
|
|
