According to Christian community tradition: * Jesus Christ
According to Christian community tradition:
* Jesus Christ had 12 main disciples (apostles), and one of them was Saint Peter was the first priest.
* The Roman Catholic Church believes that Saint Peter was the first Pope. Since he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he is regarded as a close follower and friend of Jesus.
* Today’s Popes, such as Pope Leo XIV, are considered the successors of Saint Peter. They did not live during the time of Jesus.
Why don’t Protestant Christians accept the Pope’s authority?
In the 16th century, Martin Luther and other reformers believed that:
* The Bible should be the highest authority in matters of faith.
* No single person, including the Pope, should have supreme authority over all Christians.
* Every believer can pray directly to God without needing the Pope as an intermediary.
For this reason, Protestant churches do not recognize the Pope’s authority, while the Roman Catholic Church does. However, both Catholics and Protestants believe in Jesus Christ; they differ mainly in their views on church leadership and authority.
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