St. Josemaria: "Love the Pope."

St. Josemaria Esciva with Pope John XXII & Alvaro del Portillo
Source JoseMariaEscrivaInfo

As we rapidly approach the end of Pope Benedict's tenure, I have been reflecting more and more on the role of the papacy and how blessed I have been to be formed in my faith by the teachings of Blessed John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI.

St. Josemaria had a tremendous amount of affection and respect for the papacy. Here are few of his thoughts on the Pope.

The Way, 520

Catholic, apostolic, Roman! I want you to be very Roman. And to be anxious to make your 'path to Rome', videre Petrum — to see Peter.

The Forge, 134

You must love, venerate, pray and mortify yourself for the Pope, and do so with greater affection each day. He is the foundation stone of the Church and, throughout the centuries, right to the end of time, he carries out among men that task of sanctifying and governing which Jesus entrusted to Peter.

The Forge, 135:

Your deepest love, your greatest esteem, your most heartfelt veneration, your most complete obedience and your warmest affection have also to be shown towards the Vicar of Christ on earth, towards the Pope. 

We Catholics should consider that after God and the most Blessed Virgin, our Mother, the Holy Father comes next in the hierarchy of love and authority.

The Way, 573:

Thank you, my God, for placing in my heart such love for the Pope.

Here's a video of St. Josemaria speaking to a group in Venezuela in which he answers a question about the pope.