Believe Quote by Pope Innocent III
“The Pope should not flatter himself about his power nor should he rashly glory in his honor and high estate, because the less he is judged by man, the more he is judged by God. Still the less can the Roman Pontiff glory because he can be judged by men, or rather, can be shown to be already judged, if for example he should wither away into heresy; because he who does not believe is already judged, In such a case it should be said of him: 'If salt should lose its savor, it is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled under foot by men.'”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: Papal Teaching, 1198
The Pope must avoid pride; his true worth is judged by God, not by human opinion, and loss of moral integrity renders him useless.
In simple terms: Pope should stay humble; God judges him, not people.
Key Takeaway
Stay humble and uphold moral integrity.
Themes
humility
authority
spiritual accountability
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
theological
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- personal conduct
- public speaking
- teaching
- decision making
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance humility with leadership responsibilities?
- What risks arise when authority ignores moral accountability?
A Different Perspective
Human praise can mislead; reliance on divine judgment may conflict with practical governance.
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