The Noble Art of Popesplaining

Currently getting crushed with work, so haven't time to read Christian Wagner's piece yet - https://substack.com/@scholasticanswers/note/p-213759839?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2efta9

But a piece I've been wanting to write for a while take the complete opposite position (although only in the title, my guess is substantively we are in alignment).

The Pope needs explaining and defending, and Popesplaining is a noble art.

Now, there is a distinction here between false explaining and defending, which is of course harmful, being a sin both against truth and against apologetic effectiveness.

But true Popesplaining is absolutely necessary. We have to have a theology of the Papacy that's accurate, as well as an accurate historical theory and understanding of the Papacy. From an apologetic perspective, if we cannot defend every single action of the Papacy for the last 2,000 years as perfectly in line with the Catholic understanding of the Pope, then we cannot explain or defend Catholicism.

We must defend the Pope against the Eastern Schismatic Churches. We must defend the Pope against the Protestants. The Noble Art of Popesplaining is to defend the institution as persuasively as possible, which is only possible if our arguments are in line with the truth.

Now, what makes the Noble Art difficult is that sometimes the actions of the Pope really do need explaning. What on earth is he doing here? What or why is he saying that? How can Papal Infallibility, or really the entire doctirne of the Papacy stand in the face of x y or z action?

Enter the Popesplainer - How could Peter be infallible when Paul rebuked him to his face? How do you explain Unam Sanctum? Vatican II? Dignitatis Humanae? Urban II? Pope Vigilius? The Syllabus of errors? The Index? Copernicus and Galileo? Pope Victor? Traditionis? Pope Liberius? Pope Sylvester? Pope Francis? Pope Pius XII? Pope Piux VI?

What must be done is three things:

Treat the historical record honestly and accurately
Treat the ontroversy with the proper theological lens and theology in general
While remaining accurate, and able to go deeper, to simplify and make persuasive, because the Pope is important for salvation and the goal is to win souls

Christ built his Church on Peter and Peter's confession of Faith, and gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. It's Peter's job to make sure none are lost through a rent (John 21:11), and he's been given a special charism and gift by Christ's prayer for his faith to not fail (Luke 22:32).

Remember finally that Peter himself advises we must always be prepared to give a defense (1 Peter 3:15), and reflected Christ's concern that none be lost 2 Peter 3:9.