The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

132 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.CHAPTER X.THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE.THE Church did not die with Peter, but wasdestined to continue till the end of time. Consequently, whatever official prerogatives were conferred on Peter, were not to cease at his death, butwere to be handed down to his successors fromgeneration to generation. The Churcn is in allages as much in need of a Supreme Ruler as itwas in the days of the Apostles. Nay more as the;Church is now more widely diffused than it wasthen, and is ruled by frailer men, it is more thanever in need of a central power to preserve its unityof faith and uniformity of discipline.Whatever privileges, therefore, were conferredon Peter, which may be considered essential to thegovernment of the Church, are inherited by theBishops of Rome, as successors of the Prince of theApostles just as the constitutional powers given to;George Washington have devolved on the presentincumbent of the Presidential chair.Peter, it is true, besides the prerogatives inherentin his office, possessed aiso the power of workingmiracles, and the gift of inspiration. These twolatter gifts are not claimed by the Pope, as theywere personal to Peter, and by no means essentialto the government of the Church. God acts towardi