Which city is more holy to the Catholic Church: Rome or Jerusalem?

jeroenrottgering · Aug 6, 2012

I myself was baptised into the Catholic faith (isn't that strange for a Dutch guy

, no in fact catholics are just as numorous as protestants in the Netherlands)?, but my parents never really paid anymore attention to it afterwards. Let's just say it plays no meaning in my families life whatsoever, except on christmas perhaps. Of course that is not the question, but since I 'got' this religion I find it fascinating to know more about it. Recently I bumped on a question, the question you can all read on top of this explanation and this question is: Which city is more holy to the catholic church? Rome or Jerusalem?

Both have valiable arguments. Jerusalem was the most important city of Jesus Christ and their he performed most of his miracles, helped the needy, pretty much spend most of his time there and is considered as a holy city for catholics. Europeans even saw it worthy to organize several crusades towards it.

Rome, the seat of Pope and the Catholic authority in general. The city of which Peter said, on this rock I will build my church and also a famous pilgrimage city just like Rome. It has been and still is the centre of the catholic faith and popes didn't go to kings to crown them Emperor in their own capital, but kings came to Rome to be crowned by the pope.

Which city is more holy?

Mosquito · Aug 6, 2012

I have been in both Rome and Jerusalem and must say that Jerusalem is more holy, because it lives with religion or even 3 or 4 religions, while Rome is notable city for many things and lives its own life. In Jerusalem everything is focused on religious life.

Zeno · Aug 6, 2012

jeroenrottgering said:
I myself was baptised into the Catholic faith (isn't that strange for a Dutch guy , no in fact catholics are just as numorous as protestants in the Netherlands)?, but my parents never really paid anymore attention to it afterwards. Let's just say it plays no meaning in my families life whatsoever, except on christmas perhaps. Of course that is not the question, but since I 'got' this religion I find it fascinating to know more about it. Recently I bumped on a question, the question you can all read on top of this explanation and this question is: Which city is more holy to the catholic church? Rome or Jerusalem?

Both have valiable arguments. Jerusalem was the birth city of Jesus Christ and their he performed most of his miracles, helped the needy, pretty much spend most of his time there and is considered as a holy city for catholics. Europeans even saw it worthy to organize several crusades towards it.

Rome, the seat of Pope and the Catholic authority in general. The city of which Peter said, on this rock I will build my church and also a famous pilgrimage city just like Rome. It has been and still is the centre of the catholic faith and popes didn't go to kings to crown them Emperor in their own capital, but kings came to Rome to be crowned by the pope.

Which city is more holy?

Jerusalem wasn't His birth city, but it is more relevant to Jesus than Rome was. To Christianity, however and to the Catholic faith in particular, Rome is more relevant. And who knows in an eventual God's scheme also - at the risk of being blasphemious by pretending to know the will of an eventual omnipotent being. God had thrown a few bones at Rome in the past. I'd say the Messiah could have been born anywhere in the Roman world, as long as the Romans would embrace the idea, the plan would be fulfilled.

But in general, cities are not holy. Quite the opposite.

Charlie Bravo · Aug 6, 2012

I'm pretty sure Jerusalem is more important to most American protestants than Rome. Probably a goodly number of American Catholics as well, I should think.

tjadams · Aug 6, 2012

I would say Rome.

Charlie Bravo · Aug 6, 2012

tjadams said:
I would say Rome.

Christians never fought a crusade for Rome.

jeroenrottgering · Aug 6, 2012

Charlie Bravo said:
Christians never fought a crusade for Rome.

Because Rome was already Catholic territory, so why hold a crusade against your own city.

Rasta · Aug 6, 2012

Charlie Bravo said:
I'm pretty sure Jerusalem is more important to most American protestants than Rome. Probably a goodly number of American Catholics as well, I should think.

I would agree with that.

jeroenrottgering · Aug 6, 2012

Zeno said:
Jerusalem wasn't His birth city, but it is more relevant to Jesus than Rome was. To Christianity, however and to the Catholic faith in particular, Rome is more relevant. And who knows in an eventual God's scheme also - at the risk of being blasphemious by pretending to know the will of an eventual omnipotent being. God had thrown a few bones at Rome in the past. I'd say the Messiah could have been born anywhere in the Roman world, as long as the Romans would embrace the idea, the plan would be fulfilled.

But in general, cities are not holy. Quite the opposite.

Of course how stupid, Bethlehem if I am not mistaken again!? Why can't cities by holy in your opinion? Not like I said that I am such a religious man, but I'm just curious.

Tommy Atkins · Aug 6, 2012

Rome, yes Christians have fought a crusade for Rome, the Islamic attacks of the dark ages spring to mind..

Jesus wasn't born in Jerusalem or even the same country Jerusalem was then in.

however two pilgrimages to Rome was worth only one to Jerusalem in the medieval get out of sin stakes.

jeroenrottgering · Aug 6, 2012

Charlie Bravo said:
I'm pretty sure Jerusalem is more important to most American protestants than Rome. Probably a goodly number of American Catholics as well, I should think.

First of all Protestants broke most of their contacts with rome after the split up caused by the reformation, so its logical Jerusalem may be more important. Second probably is not a certainty.

Belgarion · Aug 6, 2012

Jerusalem. Even though it is not the birthplace of Jesus Christ, that being Bethlehem a few kilometres south, it is a holy city to all Christians and to Jews and Muslims as well. Rome is holy only to Roman Catholics.

Charlie Bravo · Aug 6, 2012

jeroenrottgering said:
First of all Protestants broke most of their contacts with rome after the split up caused by the reformation, so its logical Jerusalem may be more important. Second probably is not a certainty.

Please forgive me. I wasn't aware that you were requiring certainties. I shall leave the thread with my head hung in shame.

Charlie Bravo · Aug 6, 2012

Tommy Atkins said:
Rome, yes Christians have fought a crusade for Rome, the Islamic attacks of the dark ages spring to mind..

Those were battles, not crusades. A crusade is by definition a military expedition to reclaim the Holy Lands, ie Jerusalem.

Tommy Atkins · Aug 6, 2012

Jerusalem isn't holy to Muslims, there is no proof it is.. the ascending to haven from the rock of the dome was back engineered by Islamic invaders of the 7/8th century.

Those were battles, not crusades. A crusade is by definition a military expedition to reclaim the Holy Lands, ie Jerusalem

Not Really how would you describe the crusades in Spain or Eastern Europe then?

Saint someone outlined the christian religious definition of the moral imperative of crusade, it's fighting for god's law as shown by Jesus against unbelievers.. Benedict.. Importantly he said you kill sin not the sinner, thus side stepping all that awkward sermon on the mount stuff.

General Michael Collins · Aug 6, 2012

Charlie Bravo said:
Christians never fought a crusade for Rome.

That depends very much on the meaning of 'for' in your sentence.

Charlie Bravo · Aug 6, 2012

General Michael Collins said:
That depends very much on the meaning of 'for' in your sentence.

Yeah, lol, that had occured to me right after I posted it. I'm hoping most people will understand I mean't "in order to possess" when I wrote "for".

dagul · Aug 6, 2012

General Michael Collins said:
That depends very much on the meaning of 'for' in your sentence.

I agree.

On the question in the O.P. in terms of spirituality Jerusalem is more holy for the Catholic Church since the Vatican is only the center of their government.

Rasta · Aug 6, 2012

Tommy Atkins said:
Jerusalem isn't holy to Muslims, there is no proof it is.

It is right now since there is a mosque on the temple mount.

Tommy Atkins · Aug 6, 2012

Rasta said:
It is right now since there is a mosque on the temple mount.

It's culturally important yes.. but there is no way Jerusalem could be Mohamed's 'furthest mosque' (Al-Aksa) for one very good reason.

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Which city is more holy to the Catholic Church: Rome or Jerusalem?

jeroenrottgering

Mosquito

Zeno

Charlie Bravo

tjadams

Charlie Bravo

jeroenrottgering

Rasta

jeroenrottgering

Tommy Atkins

jeroenrottgering

Belgarion

Charlie Bravo

Charlie Bravo

Tommy Atkins

General Michael Collins

Charlie Bravo

dagul

Rasta

Tommy Atkins

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