Below are two examples of references to the Pope as "the Holy Father."
The first is by Mark Ackermann, Director of the Office of the Papal Visit of the Archdiocese of New York, on 16 April 2008,
when His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI visited New York City. The second is by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
John Boehner on 05 February 2015 when he announced that His Holiness Pope Francis will address a joint session of the United
States Congress on 24 September 2015. These two examples are followed by several renditions of verses 8 and 9 of chapter
23 of the Gospel of St. Matthew, where Jesus expressly forbids calling or giving any man the titles "Father" and
"Rabbi"!
Archdiocese
of New York:
Mark
Ackermann, Director of the Office of the Papal Visit of the Archdiocese of New York, would do well to take to heart Matthew
23:8-9 rather than spin the Pope as the ultimate rock star! But his letter (below) certainly does not reveal an open
mind on this subject!
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives:
On 5 February 2015, Alan Fram of the
Associated Press reported on House Speaker John Boehner's announcement that Pope Francis will address a joint session of
the United States Congress on 24 September 2015:
Saying
he had "a bit of good news," House Speaker John Boehner delivered first word of Francis' speech at his weekly
news conference Thursday.
"We're humbled
that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and certainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American
people," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters.
* * * * * * *
Matthew 23:8-9
8 But be not ye called Rabbi:
for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father
upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
(King James Bible)
8 vos autem nolite vocari rabbi unus enim est magister vester omnes autem vos fratres estis
9 et patrem nolite vocare vobis super terram unun enim est Pater vester qui in caelis est
(Latin
Vulgate)
8 As for you, do not accept the title of Rabbi, for one
above is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And call no one on earth your Father, for One
alone is your Father -- the Heavenly Father.
(Weymouth's New Testament)
8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
9
And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven.
(American Standard Bible)
8 And ye -- ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your
director -- the Christ, and all ye are brethren;
9 and ye may not call [any] your father on the earth,
for one is your Father, who is in the heavens.
(Young's Bible)
8
Aber ihr sollt euch nicht Rabbi nennen lassen; denn einer ist euer Meister; ihr aber seid alle Bruder.
9
Und ihr sollt niemanden unter euch Vater nennen auf Erden; denn einer ist euer Vater, der in Himmel ist.
(Die
Bibel nach der Ubersetzung Martin Luthers)
8
Mas vosotros, no querais ser llamados Rabbi; porque uno es vuestro Maestro, el Cristo; y todos vosotros sois hermanos.
9 Y vuestro padre no llameis a nadie en la tierra; porque uno es vuestro Padre, el cual esta en los
cielos.
(Santa Biblia, Antigua version de Casiodoro de Reina)
