Is there still a papacy in the 23rd century? If the pope is the Vicar of Christ on Earth, do other human-colonized planets potentially have their own popes?
Replies
Probably their own archbishops and cardinals. Maybe patriarchates (which is more a feature of Orthodox Churches but does technically exist in the Catholic Church) but the Pope is the primus inter pares.
jul 20, 2025, 11:46 pm • 4 0 • view
While historically correct, the Catholic Church has not been in communion with the Orthodox Churches for centuries.
jul 21, 2025, 1:23 am • 0 0 • view
Yes but I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about Catholic patriarchates. I only mentioned the Orthodox Church because their patriarchs are much better known. The Catholic ones are mostly old, small communities historically in the Middle East, such as: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maronit...
jul 21, 2025, 9:04 am • 0 0 • view
What if: Space Pope
jul 20, 2025, 11:34 pm • 1 0 • view
They also ripped of mass effect. Imitation, flattery, yadda yadda.
jul 20, 2025, 11:36 pm • 0 0 • view
And of all music why was Wham! remembered in the 23rd century?
jul 20, 2025, 11:42 pm • 4 0 • view
I mean, fair question but honestly I wasn't mad about it.
jul 21, 2025, 12:31 am • 2 0 • view
Beastie Boys in the Kelvin timeline
jul 21, 2025, 1:26 am • 2 0 • view
Pretty sure there's at least one place where an alien quotes Scripture, or at least uses an English-language idiom with roots in the Bible, but I can't put my finger on it. Kinda feel like Spock does in TOS but also that it happens in 90s Trek, but I'm not sure.
jul 21, 2025, 12:42 am • 8 0 • view
TOS has the episode “Bread and Circuses” with that 20th century Roman Empire planet which itself was starting to develop the concept of a monotheistic order and a concept of a scion: Uhura and Kirk both elude to it, which means at least Earth Xtian doctrine is known if not followed.
jul 21, 2025, 1:19 am • 3 0 • view
In "Far Beyond the Stars" Joseph Sisko quotes a verse from St. Paul. Benjamin says "I've never known you to quote the Bible before," and Joseph says "I'm just full of surprises."
jul 21, 2025, 12:42 am • 11 0 • view
Picard quotes enough Shakespeare there’s surely at least an incidental Biblical reference.
jul 21, 2025, 1:31 am • 2 0 • view
Uhura specifically called out the son of god in TOS on the Nazi Romans episode.
jul 21, 2025, 3:41 am • 0 0 • view
It could be argued that the Bajoran Kai was a pope of sorts, for their religion... Wasn't Kai Winn's nickname Pope Karen? 😅
jul 20, 2025, 11:39 pm • 0 0 • view
Given the Pope is considered basically like an embodiment of God Himself I don’t think there could be multiple popes. But an expansion of the overall structure? For sure.
jul 20, 2025, 11:18 pm • 0 0 • view
jul 21, 2025, 1:30 am • 0 0 • view
The Moon is already part of the Archdiocese of Orlando I believe. Following the tradition that a "discovered" place falls under the diocese of wherever the ship that landed there departed from. So we do have precedent for how Catholicism spreads to other celestial bodies.
jul 22, 2025, 7:44 pm • 1 0 • view
That's fascinating. Did not know that.
jul 22, 2025, 8:23 pm • 1 0 • view
Trust the Roman Catholics to know how to colonize...
jul 22, 2025, 11:25 pm • 0 0 • view
As an ex-Anglican I'm not in a position to point fingers
jul 23, 2025, 1:25 am • 1 0 • view
Family is Catholic, though I’m not personally. I think that’s correct actually, they would need to possibly have their own popes. The Vatican operates an observatory and they’ve talked about aliens before, even suggesting they might not need salvation like humans do.
jul 20, 2025, 11:20 pm • 3 0 • view
the concept of "the big bang" originated from a catholic priest (Georges Lemaître) in the early-mid 20th century
jul 21, 2025, 2:54 am • 0 0 • view
In Balance of Terror, we see Angela Martine kneel before the altar in the chapel, which the viewers at the time probably saw as Catholic
jul 21, 2025, 1:32 am • 1 0 • view