Does the Pope Matter for Anglicans?
Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” It was Peter—bold, impetuous Peter—who stepped forward with the answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In response, Jesus made a staggering promise: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16:18). It was a moment of divine revelation and foundational authority. But precisely who, or what, is this foundation? Is Peter the foundation? Or is the foundation Peter’s statement of faith in Christ?
The question of the pope’s importance isn’t just a debate about church government or titles. It’s a deeper question about the nature of grace, the importance of faith, the role of Scripture, and the authority of Christ.
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For Roman Catholics, the answer is clear: the pope is Peter’s heir, and he remains the Rock of the Church. His authority is essential to the life and unity of the Church, and the Pope is the foundation of the visible, hierarchical Church.
For Anglicans, by contrast, the Rock of the Church is Peter’s faith in Christ. Peter is the pattern for all faithful Christians, the first to confess what we must all confess: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Therefore, the Church’s foundation is not Peter, but rather Christ. As Paul writes:
No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11
The Catholic Case: One Shepherd, One Voice
Roman Catholic ecclesiology is built upon the conviction that Peter’s role did not end with his martyrdom in Rome. It was passed on, generation after generation, to the Bishops of Rome—the popes. They are not merely administrative leaders, but spiritual fathers and doctrinal guardians. When Catholics speak of the pope, they mean the visible sign of unity, the rock that ensures the Church does not fracture into a thousand voices.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the pope is the “Vicar of Christ,” meaning the one who is vicariously Christ. He possesses “full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church” (CCC 882). The First Vatican Council (1870) declared that the pope speaks infallibly when defining doctrines concerning faith or morals.
That is what it means to speak ex cathedra, literally “from the chair” in his official capacity as the successor of St. Peter. Such declarations include the Immaculate Conception of Mary (1854) and the Bodily Assumption of Mary (1950).
Furthermore, grace, in Catholic theology, is mediated through the Church and its sacraments. The Church is the “universal sacrament of salvation.” Through baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, and the other sacraments, the Church dispenses grace. The pope’s authority ensures the proper administration and safeguarding of these graces. Communion with the pope is thus communion with the fullness of the Church.
The Anglican Response: Grace Flows Through Faith
But Anglicans see things differently.
From the earliest days of the Reformation, the Anglican reformers affirmed that Jesus Christ alone, and faith in him, is the foundation of the Church. The Thirty-Nine Articles stated it plainly:
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings.
Article 11
Thus, Anglicans do not believe that the pope is essential to the Church. As Bishop of Rome, the pope may have authority in Rome, but this authority does not extend over the whole Church. That is why Anglicans declared, “The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England” (Article 37).
These declarations were not merely political; they were theological. They recovered the New Testament conviction that Jesus rules his Church through his Word and Spirit, not through a singular human office.
While Anglicans have bishops and honor the ancient pattern of apostolic succession, they do not see episcopal authority—or unity under a pope—as necessary for the Church’s validity. To suggest that grace must pass through a particular church structure seems, to many Anglicans, to limit the power and freedom of God’s grace.
Another way to put it is that grace is not dispensed by the Church, but announced by it. The Church proclaims the good news of the Gospel. It offers the sacraments as effective means of grace, but it does not own or control God’s grace.
God’s grace comes directly to the sinner through faith in Christ.
Scripture vs. Hierarchy
Underlying these differences is a deeper divergence: the source and final authority of doctrine. For Roman Catholics, Scripture and Tradition are interpreted through the Magisterium, with the pope as its final arbiter. For Anglicans, Scripture stands above all.
Anglicans hold to a threefold cord: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. But of these, Scripture is supreme. It is the rule and ultimate standard of faith. No church authority—not a pope, council, a beloved bishop, or a general convention of bishops, clergy, and laity—can override the clear teaching of Scripture. And when it does, as it has and as it will, the church must reform these errors to the standard of Scripture.
As the English Reformers saw it, the pope had become not the servant of the Word, but its rival.
Unity Without a Pope?
But how do Anglicans maintain unity if the pope is the symbol and guarantor of unity for Roman Catholics? The answer lies in a more conciliar and voluntary model. The Anglican Communion is a family of autonomous churches, held together not by the authority of a central office, but by the authority of God’s Word, by shared tradition, common prayer, and mutual bonds of affection.
Anglicanism is sometimes messy and occasionally fractious, but intentionally so. Its unity is spiritual rather than structural, and its faith is centered not in Rome or Canterbury but in Christ.
The Pastoral Issue: Access to Grace
What does all this mean for the average Anglican in the pew?
It means that grace is not something you line up for. Clerics do not hand it out in a controlled system. It is not dispensed by a magisterial authority or according to the personal worthiness of the sinner. Grace is free. It comes through hearing the Gospel, believing in Christ, repenting of sin, and receiving his mercy. It comes through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, yes—when these are received with faith.
For Anglicans, the Church exists to serve the Gospel, not vice versa. The priest stands at the altar, not as a necessary mediator, but as a herald of Christ’s finished work. The bishop guards the faith, not by fiat, but by faithful teaching. And the authority of the Church is derived, not from Peter’s chair, but from Christ’s Word.
So, Does the Pope Matter?
In one sense, no. The pope has no authority over Anglican churches. His proclamations, while sometimes respected, are not binding. His role in the Catholic Church is not mirrored in Anglicanism.
But in another sense, yes. Though Anglicans don’t receive the pope’s authority, we do acknowledge his influence.
Through the pope’s ministry, millions of our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ will be taught, challenged, pastored, nourished, and strengthened. The pope’s voice carries significant weight in global Christianity, shaping moral conversations, calling for justice, and pointing to Christ. We can pray that God will give grace to the pope for this important work.
Finally, the pope matters because of the questions he represents. Where does authority lie? How is unity preserved? How is grace given?
The Anglican answer is both ancient and reformational: Authority lies in Scripture. Unity comes through shared faith, worship, and mutual charity. And grace is free.
Christ has not delegated his role as the foundation and cornerstone of the Church. Unlike Peter, who has died, Christ is resurrected and remains with us by his Spirit. He remains the Good Shepherd, and his sheep hear his voice.
Photo by uzhursky from Getty Images, courtesy of Canva.
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