Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 143 - Part I.
YOUCAT Question n. 143 - Part
I. Is the Pope really infallible?
(Youcat
answer) Yes. But the Pope speaks infallibly only when he defines a dogma in a
solemn ecclesiastical act (“ex cathedra”), in other words, makes an
authoritative decision in doctrinal questions of faith and morals. Magisterial
decisions of the college of bishops in communion with the Pope also possess an
infallible character, for example, decisions of an ecumenical council.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 891 a)
"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this
infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of
all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith - he proclaims by a
definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals.... The infallibility
promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together
with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium," above all
in an Ecumenical Council (LG 25; cf. Vatican Council I: DS 3074).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment)
The infallibility of
the Pope has nothing to do with his moral integrity or his intelligence. What
is infallible is actually the Church, for Jesus promised her the Holy Spirit,
who keeps her in the truth and leads her ever deeper into it. When a truth of
the faith that has been taken for granted is suddenly denied or misinterpreted,
the Church must have one final voice that authoritatively says what is true and
what is false. This is the voice of the Pope. As the successor of Peter and the
first among the bishops, he has the authority to formulate the disputed truth
according to the Church’s Tradition of faith in such a way that it is presented
to the faithful for all times as something “to be believed with certainty”. We
say then that the Pope defines a dogma. Therefore such a dogma can never
contain something substantially “new”. Very rarely is a dogma defined. The last
time was in 1950.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 891 b)
When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for
belief as being divinely revealed" (DV 10 § 2), and as the teaching of
Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of
faith" (LG 25 § 2). This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of
divine Revelation itself (Cf. LG 25).
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