Catholic Coloring Page

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome. He is the main instrument of the Holy Spirit on Earth. He is also in charge of leading the whole Church around the world. There have been many popes. St. Peter, the Apostle, was the first pope. Jesus Himself made Peter the first Pope when he changed his name from Simon to peter. Peter means "rock."

The Pope has a special grace from the Holy Spirit that helps him to be infallible in his teaching. This means that when the Pope speaks to the whole Church about faith and morals, the Holy Spirit protects him from error. Jesus promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against the Church. The grace of papal infallibility (as we call it) helps protect the Church from being wrong and falling into sinful teachings.

“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.”  Matthew 16:18-19