Response to Hugh O’Reilly’s article on the Papal Doctrine of Translatio Imperii

Romano Giulio
Triumph of Titus and Vespasian
1537


Good for someone to take notice of this forgotten Papal doctrine of Translatio Imperii and take time to write a small piece defending the rights of the Pope transferring the authority of the Roman Emperor from one people to another. Mr. O’Reilly writes well and probably means well but I must point out the errors of this Papal doctrine and will do my best as time allows. Translatio Imperii is the Papal doctrine claiming the right of the pope to transfer the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor from one people to another. History records that the authority of the Roman Emperor was transferred from the Romans to the Greeks, then to the Franks, then to the Teutons. As Mr. O’Reilly points out Charlemagne was the first recipient of the Papal favors received from the Papal doctrine of Translatio Imperii. This period in history is the very beginnings of the Papal doctrine of Translatio Imperii - transferring the authority of the Roman Emperor from the Greeks to the Franks. So much for the short history lesson. But does the Papal authority of transferring the authority of the Roman Empire from one people to another derive its origins solely from an historical event? Just because some historical event took place, does this now mean that the Pope has supreme Authority over the Holy Roman Emperor? History gave the Roman Pontiff supreme authority over the Roman Emperor according to the doctrine of Translatio Imperii. Does history really have this power to give to the Pope? Answer: No! So I will completely destroy this Papal doctrine of Translatio Imperii by quoting a few words from the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. First, regarding the Power of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity using the very words from God Himself: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth’. Mt 28:18 His Power over all creation is not debated by any Roman Catholic. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity has power and authority over the Roman Emperor. No one denies this. The question becomes did The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity give this power and authority over the Holy Roman Emperor to the Pope? Mr. O’Reilly claims that the Popes possess the following power over the Roman Emperor:
1. The Pope could depose the Holy Roman Emperor.
2. The Pope could carry out a new translatio of the imperial power should he deem it convenient. (That is transfer the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor from one people to another)
Simple question for Mr. O’Reilly: did Our Lord exercise any similar power and authority over the Pagan Roman Emperor that you claim the medieval popes possessed? The simple answer is no. Our Lord did not exercise any such power over the Pagan Roman Emperor. Our Lord did however obey the authority of the Pagan Roman Emperor, He never rebelled against the Pagan Roman Emperor, He never deposed the Pagan Roman Emperor nor did Our Lord remove the authority of the Pagan Roman Emperor from one people to another. Nor did Our Lord command His Apostles to do so. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity was a faithful Roman subject and so were His Disciples. It is self evident that this Papal Doctrine of Translatio Imperii does not originate from the life and example of Our Lord. Nor does it originate from any apostolic precept. Anyone can see this. This Papal Doctrine of Translatio Imperii is a man-made doctrine. This Papal Doctrine of Translatio Imperii does not originate from the Blessed Trinity. Its origins are man-made. Maybe this is why Mr. O’Reilly never makes mention of the Blessed Trinity in his article. Another question for Mr. O'Reilly if as Our Lord has said that:'The servant is not greater than his master’ how is it that the Pope who is not greater than his Master-Jesus Christ, can exercise such power and authority over the the Roman Emperor, when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity never did so, nor commanded His disciples to do so? Who gave the Office of the Papacy such plenitude of power over the Holy Roman Emperor? It is certainly not from God therefore it must be from men. Translatio Imperii is a man-made doctrine.

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