Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/105

The Rise of tJie Papacy 6g deliberation and by no means hastily, shall be permanently observed, and thus all possibility of those excuses which might otherwise reach us shall be removed. St. Jerome, however, in spite of the veneration which he often expressed for the Church of Rome, does not always appear to recognize the supremacy of the bishop of Rome over the other bishops. The church at Rome is not to be considered as one thing 23. St. and the rest of the churches throughout the world as another. J erome ( d - Those of Gaul and Britain, Africa, Persia, and India, as well equahty C as the various barbarous nations, adore one Christ and of all the observe a single rule of truth. If you are looking for author- blsh P s - ity, the world is surely greater than the city of Rome. Where- ever there is a bishop, whether at Rome or Eugubium, at Constantinople, Rhegium, or Alexandria, his rank and priest- hood are the same. Neither the power that riches bring nor the humility of poverty makes a bishop higher or lower in rank. All are successors of the apostles. . . . Why urge the custom of a single city? Leo the Great gives the following clear statement of nature and grounds of the pope's claim to be head of the whole Church. ... A single person, Peter, is appointed from the whole 24. A ser- world as a leader in the calling of all peoples, and is placed mon b y Leo above all Jhe other apostles and the fathers of the Church., O n Peter's Although there are many priests among the people of God, headship, and many pastors, Peter should of right rule all of those whom Christ himself rules in the first instance. Great and marvelous, my dear brethren, is the participation in its own power which it has pleased the Divine Excellency to grant to this man. And such powers as it granted to other leaders in common with Peter were granted only through Peter. Our Lord, indeed, asked all the apostles what men said of him, but so long as it was left to all to reply, so long was the hesitation