How Did the Pope Get His Nickname?

His fraternity brothers gave him his nickname, but over time, the term "Pope" has come to mean much more than just an endearing way to address the leader of the Catholic Church. The term "Pope" itself is derived from the Latin word Papa, meaning "father."

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Which Pope and Which Nickname

What Does "Pope" Mean?

Pope simply means Papa Padre Father Patriarch. But why are we calling him as pope, Papa, Padre, or Patriarch? This can be answered by looking at the Biblical context.

Scriptural Foundations for the Term "Pope"

The Bible doesn't only talk about biological fathers; it also speaks about spiritual fathers. The New Testament uses the term "father" to refer to spiritual leaders.

Romans 4:11-12 (Good News Bible)

“And so Abraham is THE SPIRITUAL FATHER of all who believe in God and are accepted as righteous by him even though they are not circumcised. v12 He is also THE FATHER of those who are circumcised that is of those who in addition to being circumcised also live the same life of faith that OUR FATHER Abraham lived before he was circumcised.”

This passage establishes the concept of a spiritual fatherhood inChristianism. The term "Pope" is in line with this tradition.

St. Peter and the First Pope

Remember that Saint Peter is the first pope. Let's examine the Old and New Testaments to understand the origin of the term.

The Prophecy of Isaiah in the Old Testament

Isaiah 22:20-21

“And it shall come to pass in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a FATHER to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

22-23 And The KEY of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.”

This prophecy describes a leader who will be a father to the people, which aligns with the concept of the Pope as the father of the Catholic Church.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy in the New Testament

Matthew 16:17-19 (ESV)

"And Jesus answered him “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The binding and loosing powers, as well as the keys to the kingdom of heaven, confirm St. Peter's position as the spiritual father of the Church.

The Role of the Pope as a Spiritual Father

1 Corinthians 4:14-16

"14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ you do not have many fathers. FOR I BECAME YOUR FATHER IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH THE GOSPEL. 16 I urge you then be imitators of me.

1 Timothy 1:2

"2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

The minister or priest of God is becoming the spiritual father to his flock. Calling Pope Francis Papa Francisco, Father Francis, or Patriarch Francis only means that he is the spiritual father of the Roman Catholic Church.

Conclusion

The term "Pope" has deep roots in the Christian tradition, rooted in the Old and New Testaments. It reflects the spiritual fatherhood that the pope embodies and exercises over the Catholic Church.