--- title: Do Catholics Worship the Pope? description: Do Catholics Worship the Pope? --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/04/22/do-catholics-worship-the-pope#) # Do Catholics Worship the Pope? Apr 22, 2013 10:00:03 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![Popeinary Graphic](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Popeinary-Graphic.png?width=320&height=286&name=Popeinary-Graphic.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Popeinary-Graphic.png)Worship. Adoration. Veneration. Honor. So many words that might, on the surface, seem interchangeable but are actually very (very) different. When we think of God, the Virgin Mary, the Saints, the Pope, our parents - one thing we are expected to do is to honor them. The type of honor that we offer up is quite different for each. Honor is a word kind of like "love". I love my husband, I love my son, and I love dark chocolate...but each of those is expressed and meant in a very different way. The highest form of honor is **adoration** and is exclusive to God alone. Known as**latria**, it recognizes that God is our perfect creator. He is One, He is infinite, he is a perfect divine being. We **worship** God during mass. Think about this for a moment. The primary action behind worship is **sacrifice**...and while we are not sacrificing a lamb at mass, we are giving God the sacrifice of our time, attention, talents, and treasure. No where else will you celebrate a mass where you are giving sacrifice to anyone besides God. You may celebrate a mass and remember or honor someone at the mass, but the sacrifice is always given to God. The next, though lower, form of honor is **veneration**. This takes two forms:**hyperdulia** and **dulia**. This type of honor is for Mary (hyperdulia) and the saints & angels (dulia)...the good angels, that is! Hyperdulia is just that *bit more* of honor reserved just for Mary. As the chosen Mother of God, she holds a special place in his heart - just as she does in ours. Dulia is a similar though slightly lesser honor given to saints and (good) angels, and is something that is still above "everyday" honor. Unless you are declared a bonafide Saint, you are not venerated. There is no worship, adoration, or sacrifice associated with hyperdulia or dulia. Everyday, or **ordinary honor**, is what we give to our Pope...to our parents...to anyone deserving. There is no worship, adoration, or sacrifice associated with ordinary honor. ***Copyright 2013 Jen Frost*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fdo-catholics-worship-the-pope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fdo-catholics-worship-the-pope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fdo-catholics-worship-the-pope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Do%20Catholics%20Worship%20the%20Pope%3F) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fdo-catholics-worship-the-pope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fdo-catholics-worship-the-pope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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