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Originally posted by bb80sc
First of all, I hate cats 
I never said the Pope was not a kind, tolerant, diplomatic, etc.... person, nor that his death will not be a loss.
What is the purpose of confession if those who are higher in the Catholic pyramid are NOT closer to God? It's my understanding, perhaps wrong, that the priests and higher are the ones allowed to talk to God, or pass along forgiveness of sins. If this does not imply "closer to God", I do not know what does. And yes, some people I have talked to actuall believe the Pope "is" the right hand of God....
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Fair 'nuff. I have been Catholic all my life and I'm no priest or theologian, but I have a sense of how the Church might answer some of your questions. Yes, in a way some folks will leave you thinking that the Pope is at God's right hand. Kinda. Kinda not. Same with being "closer" to God. As far as the sacrament of Reconciliation (confession), that is an authority granted to priests not by virtue of their pureness or closeness to God, but rather it is a delegated authority that is named without necessarily being earned. Sure, we hope and expect that priests will hold themselves to a higher standard, but they do not earn the right to hear confessions. It is conferred upon them without regard for deservedness. All authority is God's. All authority. God (Jesus) conferred certain authorities upon Peter, and it is that set of authorities which have been handed down through the centures and millenia. John Paul has them at the moment. If you want the cite I gate provide it. Jesus told Peter that whatever he binds on Earth will be bound in Heaven, and what he looses on Earth will be loosed in Heaven. For example. Peter was the one who denied Christ three times on the morning of Jesus death. Jesus knew that all along. The bible is an interesting book. CS Lewis thought he would use it to disprove the existence of God. Something quite different became the result of Mr. Lewis' research.
Okay, 'nuff preaching from Superman.