Short Answer: What About Bad Popes?

Dear Apologist, How do I respond to questions about the bad Popes in our history?

One theme that runs through the whole Bible is that God does great works despite using very poor materials. This served as a sign that it was truly God at work.

For instance, many of the ancient patriarchs were misfits, adulterers, and liars - but God’s promise to Abraham continued through them.

Likewise the Hebrew people were rebellious and hard-hearted.  Throughout the Old Testament narrative they are constantly falling into idolatry, setting aside God's laws, and ignoring the prophets.  God kept them as His chosen nation despite all this.

Even the Apostles - who were handpicked by Jesus - expressed monumental failings.  And yet, the book of Ephesians called them the foundation of the Church:

"You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." - Ephesians 2:19-20

So it should not be surprising or distressing to find despicable Popes in Church history. Their personal holiness is not the foundation of their office.  Nor does their unworthiness do anything to invalidate their reign or destroy the office.  God can even work with them. 

A good Biblical analogy is the cases of King Saul and King David.  Regarding Saul, toward the end of his reign he became sinful and unworthy of the crown.  David’s soldiers tempted him to kill Saul, but David refused because Saul was God’s chosen king:

"David said to his men, 'The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord's anointed.' With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul." - 1 Sam 24:7-8

David didn’t look at the behavior of the man, but upon the anointing God gave him through the prophet.  [Which is seen in 1Samuel 9:17 and 1Samuel 10:1] 

Regarding King David, one of the major turning points in the Old Testament is King David's adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband.  This is obviously despicable, but it likewise didn't end King David's reign, his dynasty, or any the promises God made to him.  

A final example is Jesus’ response when the crowds asked if they could ignore the teaching authority of the hypocritical Pharisees.  Christ said:

"The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sit on the Seat of Moses.  You shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do.” - Matt 23:2-3

So even though the ministry of Jesus was constantly dogged by opposition from the Pharisees - even though Jesus was more critical of them than anyone else - He still expected the people to obey their authority.

Following these examples, we should not ignore the legitimate authority of an office when its occupant is scandalous.  Rather, we should trust that God protects the Church.  We place our confidence in the promise of Christ, who said,

“The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church” - Matthew 16:18

and...

“I will be with you until the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20