"Pope Leo XIV addressed visitors from around the world on the relationship between Scripture and tradition. In his remarks, the Pope reaffirmed the long-standing Roman Catholic principle that church tradition stands on the same level as—if not above—the Holy
This position stands in direct contrast to historic Protestant belief, which holds that when tradition becomes a second authority in the church, it gains the power to reinterpret, correct, or even override what God Himself has written, making the final judge of truth no longer God’s Word but fallible men who claim the authority to define tradition.
The Holy See Press Office published the following statement from Pope Leo XIV:
• “Today we will reflect on the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Tradition.”
• “It is what the Second Vatican Council affirms, using an evocative image: ‘There exists a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end.”
• “The Council affirms that ‘this tradition which comes from the Apostles develops in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
• “Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God, committed to the Church, interpreted by the living teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.”
• “Scripture and Tradition … are so linked and joined together that they cannot stand independently, and together, each in their own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”
When human tradition is treated as authoritative, it can supersede and effectively nullify God’s commandments by substituting His clear instructions with man-made rules. Jesus Himself rebuked religious leaders for elevating human tradition in a way that set aside the Word of God:
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.”
The Holy See Press Office published the following statement from Pope Leo XIV:
• “Today we will reflect on the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Tradition.”
• “It is what the Second Vatican Council affirms, using an evocative image: ‘There exists a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end.”
• “The Council affirms that ‘this tradition which comes from the Apostles develops in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
• “Scripture and Tradition … are so linked and joined together that they cannot stand independently, and together, each in their own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”
When human tradition is treated as authoritative, it can supersede and effectively nullify God’s commandments by substituting His clear instructions with man-made rules. Jesus Himself rebuked religious leaders for elevating human tradition in a way that set aside the Word of God:
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.”
Mark 7:8.
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
Mark 7:13.
“But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9.
When tradition is viewed as equal to the Holy Scriptures, it becomes a rival rule of faith—an alternate standard that many end up following instead of submitting to what God’s Word actually teaches."
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