The Family Room (The Quest)
Join co-hosts Mari Cleveland from St. Jude the Apostle and John Gordon and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel as they speak with authors, theologians, and local priests and lay leaders to provide your family encouragement, resources, and hope. Enjoy heartfelt stories and engaging conversations with Catholics who are excited to share their life experiences and acquired wisdom to help your family continue to live out your faith with joy.
Jul 2, 2025
Are Popes Human, Too?
Those outside Catholicism, and even some within her fold, misunderstand the role of the Pope. Thinking him either a dictator or super-human, they question why he’s needed. As former Protestant pastor Dr. Bergsma said in a recent Family Room podcast, it was Sola Scriptura’s lack of hierarchical authority which rattled him. Everyone could interpret the Bible as they saw fit, resulting in chaos.
Listen as co-hosts Mari, John, and Craig tackle some of Catholicism’s most confusing doctrines. They stress the humanity of these men, reminding us every Pope brings his own brokenness to the role. Yet the Holy Spirit gives us the Pope we need for that particular time.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa marveled that each successive Pope seems to compensate for a weakness in his predecessor. This swing of the pendulum, compensating for the weakness of each Pope, is evidence of God’s omniscient hand over His beloved Church.
Hosts tell favorite stories of recent popes, and John closes the podcast after sharing he was a classmate of Pope Leo XIV in high school and college. Honoring this man who helped shape him in those formative years, John said, “If a Shepherd has to be gentle enough to care for the flock and keep them close, but fierce enough to keep the wolves off, Bob Prevost is the Holy Spirit’s choice.”
Resources:
- Papal infallibility in the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 891-892
- Papal infallibility from Wikipedia
- Subsidiarity topic discussed in episode of The Family Room
- St. Michael Prayer
- Pope Leo XIV biography
- Article: “Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, known as the 'saint of the north' in Peru for his closeness to poor"
- Pope Saint John Paul II biography
- Movie: Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism.” (Trailer) - movie available on FORMED (check your parish for subscription/access)
