The papal supremacy is a doctrine of the catholic church that puts the pope and his office as the Vicar of Christ. Various popes contributed to the creation of papal powers during in the 6th century (St. Benedict). St. Damascus, one of the Bishops of Rome during the establishment of these powers, presided over the council of Rome of 382 that made official the list of sacred scriptures. He fought against Macedonianism, thereby strengthening the christian faith in the catholic church. St. Damascus was the first pope to refer to Rome as the apostolic headquarters and officially pronounced roman supremacy (Boer 18). He encouraged the production of the vulgate bible with the powers he had.
St. Leo (Leo the Great), the master of papal supremacy, conducted activities that separated the Roman empire and Christendom. He dedicated his time to seeing the west unite under pope and securing the orthodox. His letters explain how the papal powers were granted by christ to St. Peter alone, and that Peter passed these powers to his successors (Leo I). St. Leo secured Rome as a holy place and laid the foundation to help the western leadership. On his 52nd birthday, his third sermon which was delivered on the anniversary of his elevation talked of how the powers of pope were passed from Christ. St. Gelasius was the first pope to be named the “Vicar of Christ”. He upheld the papal powers in the dispute with Anastasius. He documented the pope as the supreme being after Christ, making him the architects of Roman supremacy in ecclesiastical affairs. St. Gelasius explained the sacred power and the civil power as the two greatest forces that rule the world (Valentian 1). His doctrine became the mode for successive popes who advocated for the primacy of the see of Rome.
Works Cited
Boer, Harry R. A Short History of the Early Church. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1976, pp 18–26.
Leo I, “The Petrine Doctrine [r.440-461]” Web.
St. Benedict, “The Rule of St. Benedict, c.530” Web.
Valentian 1, “Decree on Papal Power 445” Web.