Apostolic Succession and the Papacy
Catholic teaching holds that Christ entrusted His Church to the apostles, with Peter as their head, and that the apostles in turn passed on their teaching authority and pastoral office to bishops in unbroken succession. The Bishop of Rome — the Pope — is the successor of Peter and serves as the visible head of the universal Church. These twelve passages walk through the biblical foundation.
What Scripture says
All quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
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Matthew 16:17-19
Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."
The foundational text. Peter receives a new name (Rock), a unique foundation role, and the keys of the Kingdom.
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Luke 22:31-32
The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."
Jesus singles Peter out among the Twelve and gives him the role of strengthening the brothers.
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John 21:15-17
So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?"... Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."
After the Resurrection, Peter is uniquely commissioned to shepherd Christ's flock.
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Acts 1:15-26
In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said... "his office let another take."... and they cast lots... and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The apostles immediately fill the vacancy left by Judas. Apostolic office is succeeded, not extinguished.
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Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Paul and Barnabas appoint elders — passing on apostolic order to local churches.
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Acts 20:28
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
The Holy Spirit "made" overseers — through human appointment but with divine effect.
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2 Timothy 2:2
The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Four-generation chain: Paul → Timothy → faithful men → others. Apostolic succession in seed form.
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1 Timothy 4:14
Don't neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
Timothy received office through laying on of hands. The continuity is sacramental.
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2 Timothy 1:6
For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Paul's own hands transmitted the apostolic gift to Timothy.
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Titus 1:5
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;
Titus is given authority to ordain — apostolic succession as church planting strategy.
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Matthew 18:18
Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
The binding/loosing authority given to Peter (Matthew 16:19) is extended to the apostolic college.
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Acts 15:6-29
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter... it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things... they delivered the decisions which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem, for them to keep.
The Jerusalem Council — apostles and elders together making a binding decision for the universal Church. The pattern of conciliar authority.
A prayer
Lord Jesus, You built Your Church on the apostles, with Peter as the rock. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, our bishops, and our priests. Keep them faithful. Give them wisdom. Unite us in the one fold under the one Shepherd. Amen.