The Papacy: Revisiting the Debate Between Catholics and Orthodox

by Erick Ybarra

St. Victor was merely attempting to exercise universal jurisdiction but was unsuccessful31 And yet, as Fr. Luke Rivington observed, not one bishop contested the pope’s authority to do what he claimed, “but they exhort, and protest, and warn, and entreat him not to do so.”

It is simply unmistakable that St. Cyprian understood the bishop’s Chair to involve that of a position of authority in teaching and jurisdiction over his flock. Such is a safe conclusion.