WI: The Pope considered an incarnation of Jesus?

I don't think you could have the main body of Christianity running under this system, but I do think it perfectly conceivable to have some heretical splinter group claim that there spiritual leader is the incarnation of Jesus Christ (surprised that didn't happen in otl)

Taipings in China? Sure thats Jesus' brother but near enough.
 
One possible way forward for this idea would be to consider the Pope the receptacle of the Holy Spirit on Earth. The Trinity still exists but one third / one facet of it (choose your heresy carefully;)) resides in God's annointed representative of Earth.

This isn't too far away from Papal infallibility tbh
Well actually, it is Christian doctrine iOTL that the Holy Spirit resides in all believers. And, I'm sure it's OTL Roman Catholic doctrine that the Spirit does reside in a special way in the Pope...
 
Well actually, it is Christian doctrine iOTL that the Holy Spirit resides in all believers. And, I'm sure it's OTL Roman Catholic doctrine that the Spirit does reside in a special way in the Pope...

Yeah Catholics don't even really place that much importance on the holy spirit. It's like how Protestants generally pay less attention to the Virgin Mary.
 
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