Papal infallibility facts for kids
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Papal infallibility is a special teaching, called a dogma, in the Catholic Church. It means that the Pope, when speaking officially on matters of faith or morals for the whole Church, is protected from making a mistake. This protection comes from Jesus' promise to Peter, who Catholics believe was the first Pope.
This teaching does not mean the Pope cannot sin or make mistakes in his everyday life. It only applies when he speaks ex cathedra, which means "from the chair" of his authority as the leader of the Church. The idea of papal infallibility became an official dogma at the First Vatican Council in 1870.
Contents
What is Papal Infallibility?
Understanding Infallibility
The Catholic Church teaches that infallibility is a special gift from Christ to the entire Church. The Pope, as the leader of all bishops, has this gift in a unique way. It helps him keep the Church from falling into error and ensures that followers stay true to their faith. This divine help also guides the Pope in his regular teachings.
When is a Teaching Infallible?
For a Pope's teaching to be considered infallible, certain conditions must be met:
- The Pope must be acting as the leader and teacher of all Christians.
- He must be speaking ex cathedra, meaning from his highest authority.
- The teaching must be about faith or morals.
- The teaching must be meant for the entire Church to believe.
When a teaching is declared infallible, the words used often make it very clear. For example, a Pope might say, "We declare, pronounce and define this doctrine... to be held by all the faithful."
An example of an infallible teaching is the Assumption of Mary, declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950. He said that anyone who disagreed with this teaching would be "fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith."
What Infallibility Does Not Cover
Papal infallibility does not mean the Pope can create brand new doctrines. Any infallible teaching must be based on what was already given to the early Church and found in the Scripture and tradition. The Pope's role is to protect and explain these existing truths.
Not all Catholic teachings are infallible. The Church divides teachings into different types:
- Divinely revealed: These are truths that come directly from God, like the sayings of Jesus in the Gospels. Examples include the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the Assumption of Mary.
- To be held definitively: These are important truths that are closely connected to divine revelation. Examples include Transubstantiation (the belief that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ) and the rule that women cannot be ordained as priests. Papal infallibility itself is also in this category.
- Ordinary teaching: These are teachings that Catholics should respect and follow, but they are not declared infallible.
Popes themselves have said that infallible statements are very rare. Pope Benedict XVI once said, "The Pope is not an oracle; he is infallible in very rare situations."
The Idea of Ex Cathedra
The Latin phrase ex cathedra means "from the chair." In ancient times, a "chair" (cathedra or sedes) was a symbol of a teacher's authority. For example, a university professor holds a "chair," and a bishop's area of authority is called a "see."
Catholics believe the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, who they see as the first Pope. The Pope is said to occupy the "Chair of Saint Peter" in Rome. Because Peter had a special role among the apostles, the Pope is seen as the main spokesperson for the whole Church.
When the Pope speaks ex cathedra, it means he is using his highest authority as the shepherd and teacher of all Christians. He is defining a doctrine about faith or morals that the entire Church must believe.
How the Idea Developed
Early Church and Peter's Role
The idea of the Pope having a special authority comes from the Bible. In the Gospels, Jesus gave Saint Peter a special role. For example, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus says he will build his Church on Peter, calling him a "rock." In Luke 22:32, Jesus prays for Peter's faith not to fail and tells him to strengthen his fellow believers.
Catholics believe these passages show that Peter was given a unique authority to lead and guide the Church. This authority is then passed down to his successors, the Popes.
History of the Teaching
The idea that the Roman Church, and later the Pope, could not make mistakes in faith has a long history. In the 6th century, a statement called the Hormisdas formula said, "The Roman church has never erred (and will never err)." This meant the Roman tradition kept the faith pure.
During the Middle Ages, some theologians, like Thomas Aquinas, discussed the Pope's special authority in defining faith. In the 11th century, the Dictatus papae (a list of statements about papal power) claimed that "the Roman church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity."
In the 14th century, there was a debate involving Pope John XXII and a group of Franciscans. The Franciscans argued that previous Popes had made certain teachings infallible, and therefore, John XXII could not change them. John XXII disagreed, showing that the idea of papal infallibility was still being discussed and developed.
Official Definition in 1870
The teaching of papal infallibility was formally defined in 1870 at the First Vatican Council. The Council declared that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra on faith or morals for the whole Church, he is protected by God from error. This means such definitions are unchangeable "of themselves and not from the consent of the Church."
This definition was voted on by the bishops at the Council. Most bishops agreed, though a small number voted against it or left before the final vote.
Reaffirmed in 1964
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) also reaffirmed papal infallibility in its document Lumen gentium. This showed that the Church continued to uphold this teaching.
How Infallibility Works in Practice
How Often Does it Happen?
There is some discussion about how often Popes make infallible declarations. Some believe it happens very rarely and only for very important teachings. Others think it might apply to more common actions, like the canonization of a saint (declaring someone a saint). However, the Church teaches that canonizations are not "divinely revealed" truths, but rather truths that are "definitively held."
Examples of Infallible Declarations
According to many Catholic experts, there have been only a few clear ex cathedra statements:
- In 1854, Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception, which states that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without sin.
- In 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary, which states that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven after her earthly life.
Other historical documents are also considered infallible by some scholars, but these two are the most widely accepted clear examples since the formal definition in 1870.
Women's Ordination
In 1994, Pope John Paul II wrote an important letter, Ordinatio sacerdotalis, stating that the Catholic Church cannot ordain women as priests. Later, the Church's teaching office confirmed that this teaching is part of the "ordinary and infallible" teaching of the Church. This means it is a truth that has always been taught and is now definitively confirmed.
Different Views and Objections
Views from Catholics
Before 1870, not all Catholics believed in papal infallibility as a required part of their faith. Some, especially in France and Germany, had different views. For example, in 1789, English Catholics stated they did not believe the Pope was infallible and would not obey any immoral orders from him.
After the First Vatican Council in 1870, most Catholics accepted the new definition. However, some groups, mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, did not accept it. This led to a split, and these groups formed what are now known as the Old Catholic Churches.
Even today, a few Catholics, like theologian Hans Küng, have questioned the doctrine of papal infallibility. However, the Church has upheld its teaching.
Views from Protestants
Many Protestant churches do not believe in papal infallibility. They argue that the idea is not found in the Bible or in the teachings of the early Church.
- They often believe that the Bible alone is the final authority for faith and morals.
- They point out that Saint Peter in the Bible did not refer to himself as the supreme head of the Church.
- They also note that at the Council of Jerusalem, other apostles, like James, played a key role in making decisions.
Churches like the Church of England, Methodist Churches, and Reformed churches reject papal infallibility. For example, the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England state that the Church of Rome has "erred... in matters of Faith." The Westminster Confession of Faith (used by Presbyterian and Reformed churches) states that the Bible is the "infallible rule" and that the Pope is not the head of the Church.
Views from Other Religions
Some non-Christian religions have their own ideas about infallibility:
- Islam believes in the infallibility of its prophets and the Quran, but not a current living authority.
- Shia Islam recognizes certain imams (religious leaders) as being divinely chosen and infallible.
Political Reactions
British Concerns
After the definition of papal infallibility in 1870, some political leaders were concerned. William Ewart Gladstone, the British Prime Minister, publicly criticized the decision. He worried that Catholics would be forced to obey the Pope over their own government. He described the Catholic Church as a "despotism" and claimed the Pope wanted to replace the rule of law with tyranny.
John Henry Newman, a famous Catholic leader in England, responded to these concerns. He argued that papal infallibility was limited and did not conflict with a person's conscience. He famously said he would drink to the Pope, "still, to conscience first and to the Pope afterwards."
Bismarck's Worries
Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, also feared the new dogma. He believed that Pope Pius IX and future Popes might use infallibility to gain international political power. This led to a conflict in Germany called the Kulturkampf, where the government tried to limit the Catholic Church's political influence.
Bismarck even tried to get other European governments to agree on how to influence future papal elections. He believed that because of infallibility, the Pope had become "a completely absolute one – more so than any absolute monarch in the world."
Images for kids
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Supporters of the Pope outside the United Nations in 2008.
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Pope Leo XIII is shown guiding the ship of the Church in this 1903 painting.
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This painting from 1870 celebrates the new teaching of papal infallibility.
