Servus Servorum Dei
Encyclopedia
Servus Servorum Dei is a Latin phrase meaning Servant of the Servants of God. The phrase is one of the titles of the Pope
and is used to refer to the Pope in the beginning address of Papal bull
s.
according to Saint Matthew, chapter 20, verses 25 to 27:
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and is used to refer to the Pope in the beginning address of Papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
s.
History
Pope St. Gregory I (pope from 590 to 604) was the first pope to use this title to refer to himself as Pope. The adoption of the title stemmed from a dispute with the Archbishop of Constantinople John the Faster who adopted the title "Ecumenical Patriarch": the humble title "Servant of the Servants of God" countervailed the other's claim of power and eminence against the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). Some of Pope Gregory's successors used the phrase off and on for some centuries, but they did so regularly only from the 9th century. At times, some civil rulers also used this title, but after the 12th century it came to be used exclusively by the Pope.Biblical background
This papal title also has a biblical background found in the GospelGospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
according to Saint Matthew, chapter 20, verses 25 to 27:
- 25. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
- 26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- 27. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.