Catechesis: On the Papacy

1 The Roman pontiff claims for himself that he is ‹supreme above› all bishops and pastors by divine right.

2 Second, he adds that by divine right he has both swords, that is, the authority also to enthrone and depose kings‹, regulate secular dominions, and such›.

3 Third, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. For these reasons, the Roman bishop calls himself ‹and boasts that he is› the vicar of Christ on earth.

4 These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and destructive to the Church.

—Tractatus