Vatican Clarifies Pope’s Role ‘as Universal Shepherd’ in Wake of US Ambassador’s Comments

Vatican Clarifies Pope’s Role ‘as Universal Shepherd’ in Wake of US Ambassador’s Comments

‘The pope normally speaks as a head of the Church,’ papal expert Father Roberto Regoli told EWTN News.

Vatican clarifies pope’s role in wake of US ambassador's comments

When the pope speaks out on matters of war and peace, is he doing so as a religious authority or a political leader? A U.S. diplomat and a Vatican official recently expressed contrasting views on the question.According to the New York Times last week, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch argued that when Pope Leo spoke out against the war in Iran, “he was not doing so as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the vicar of Christ.”“When …