Seeking God, or Peter Thiel, in Silicon Valley

A key tenant of Catholicism (as well as Orthodox Christianity) is humility. If someone is running around yelling that they know better than the Pope, then they ought to take a moment to reflect on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. (And maybe also remind themselves of that thing with the camel and the needle.)

This is Catholicism used as identity and as an ideological cudgel. If these people are genuinely faithful, I fail to see it in their words and deeds.

While it's true that the Pope is a politician in the sense that he's the head of the Vatican State and has political responsibilities, his role within the Catholic Church is much more significant. As the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope's teachings on faith and morals hold a special authority.

Catholics are expected to adhere to the Pope's definitive teachings on matters of faith and morals. When the Pope speaks ex cathedra on these issues, his pronouncements are considered infallible and must be accepted by all Catholics. Disagreeing with these teachings would be contrary to Catholic doctrine and could be considered heresy.

It's important to note that not all statements made by the Pope carry this level of authority. Catholics can respectfully disagree with the Pope on non-definitive matters, but they should always do so with respect and a willingness to engage in dialogue.

In summary, while the Pope does have political duties, his primary role is as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, and his definitive teachings on faith and morals are not open to disagreement by Catholics.