Jesus founded the Church and remains its head. So why do we need a pope? Doesn’t Jesus call each of us individually to follow Him?

While it is true that each of us is called to follow Jesus, there are many reasons why we have a pope. Perhaps the most important one is that Jesus wants it that way.

He didn’t come right out and say, “You must have a pope.” But if we look at Scripture, the message is clear that Jesus set the wheels in motion when He said to Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18) and added, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

We also have that famous post-Resurrection scene from John 21:15-17, in which Jesus three times draws out a profession of faith from Peter (to cancel his three denials prior to the Crucifixion) and commands Peter to “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus’ words contain the job description for Peter and all the other 264 popes who have followed him. First, as the rock or foundation of the Church, the pope is to be the mark of unity and stability in the Church. Jesus didn’t want each town or neighborhood to set up its own independent church with its own beliefs. All these communities throughout the world are to be united in one Church that stands firm in its beliefs. Jesus, not the pope, builds or increases the Church but He ties all this new growth to the “rock” of the Church.

Second, in handing Peter His keys to the Kingdom, Jesus gave him the supreme power to govern the Church. Jesus rules the Church through the pope. He has given the pope the authority to make and impose the laws, to grant dispensations from these laws and, if necessary, to change or annul them.

Third, in commanding Peter to tend and feed His sheep, Jesus gave Peter the role of teacher and protector. The pope is called to be a nurturer of all those in the Church.

At Pentecost, we see Peter taking on these responsibilities as he steps forward to speak to the crowd. (Acts 2:14-41) Quoting from the Old Testament, Peter teaches the crowd and calls the people to conversion, just as Jesus had done on Earth. In response, the people recognize his leadership by turning to him and asking “what are we to do?”

In Acts 15:1-12, we find Peter exercising his governing authority when he rules, in response to a question from Paul, that Gentiles are not required to first become Jews in order to become Christians. By basing his decision in this matter not on his own views but on God’s will, Peter showed his successors that God is really in charge and they are simply His instruments.

To know God’s will, the pope must be in constant communication with God. E-mail and cell phones don’t work but prayer does. The pope, therefore, must be a man of prayer with a heart that is open to hearing God’s voice and responding in obedience.

The Church has become so large that today’s pope must have the help of many people including cardinals, bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters, deacons, theologians, and the laity. Yet despite all these advisors and helpers, the pope still has the ultimate responsibility of leading the Church on earth and his job description remains the same as Peter’s.

Now that we know why we need a pope, we also know why he needs our prayers.