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| How infallible is the Pope? | How infallible is the Pope? |
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| WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... | WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... |
| Pope Benedict has not yet made any "infallible" statementsCommentators have described Pope Benedict's recent expressions of regret as close to a rare papal apology. But how, they ask, can a man believed by Catholics to be "infallible" make a mistake? | Pope Benedict has not yet made any "infallible" statementsCommentators have described Pope Benedict's recent expressions of regret as close to a rare papal apology. But how, they ask, can a man believed by Catholics to be "infallible" make a mistake? |
| According to the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome IS infallible - but only in specific cases. The current furore over remarks made by the pontiff about Islam does not fall into this category. | According to the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome IS infallible - but only in specific cases. The current furore over remarks made by the pontiff about Islam does not fall into this category. |
| Papal infallibility only comes into play with issues of faith that concern the whole Church. It doesn't apply when the Pope is expressing a personal opinion or, in this case, quoting from a historical text. | Papal infallibility only comes into play with issues of faith that concern the whole Church. It doesn't apply when the Pope is expressing a personal opinion or, in this case, quoting from a historical text. |
| Papal infallibility was hotly debated for centuries within the Church after the notion that the Pope was the preserver of apostolic - derived from the apostles - truth, was set out in the early 6th Century. But according to Catholic historian Peter Stanford the word infallible wasn't used because it was believed only God could be infallible. | Papal infallibility was hotly debated for centuries within the Church after the notion that the Pope was the preserver of apostolic - derived from the apostles - truth, was set out in the early 6th Century. But according to Catholic historian Peter Stanford the word infallible wasn't used because it was believed only God could be infallible. |
| It was acknowledged that various popes down the ages had brought disgrace on the office by their behaviour and judgements, he says. | It was acknowledged that various popes down the ages had brought disgrace on the office by their behaviour and judgements, he says. |
| It wasn't until the 19th Century that moves were made for a formal acknowledgement that the Pope was faultless. In 1870, the First Vatican Council proclaimed that the Pope was infallible - but certain conditions were attached. | It wasn't until the 19th Century that moves were made for a formal acknowledgement that the Pope was faultless. In 1870, the First Vatican Council proclaimed that the Pope was infallible - but certain conditions were attached. |
| WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines href="/1/hi/world/europe/5356820.stm" class="">Pope comment 'linked to Crusade' | |
| The agreement reached by the Council stated that a Pope "when he speaks ex cathedra" - that is, as head of the Church - is "possessed of infallibility" when "he defines.... a doctrine concerning faith and morals to be held by the whole Church". | The agreement reached by the Council stated that a Pope "when he speaks ex cathedra" - that is, as head of the Church - is "possessed of infallibility" when "he defines.... a doctrine concerning faith and morals to be held by the whole Church". |
| Once the Pope has spoken, the First Vatican Council agreed, his definitions "are irreformable of themselves". | Once the Pope has spoken, the First Vatican Council agreed, his definitions "are irreformable of themselves". |
| Routine papal teaching, however, is not considered infallible. | Routine papal teaching, however, is not considered infallible. |
| What is infallible? | What is infallible? |
| And such infallible proclamations are highly uncommon. According to papal historian Michael Walsh there has only been one occasion since the council proclamation when a pope has made an infallible statement. | And such infallible proclamations are highly uncommon. According to papal historian Michael Walsh there has only been one occasion since the council proclamation when a pope has made an infallible statement. |
| In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the assumption of Mary into heaven as a dogma of faith. According to Mr Walsh, it is thought Pope John Paul II wanted to speak infallibly in 1994 when he ruled out the possibility of women ever being ordained, but was advised against it. | In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the assumption of Mary into heaven as a dogma of faith. According to Mr Walsh, it is thought Pope John Paul II wanted to speak infallibly in 1994 when he ruled out the possibility of women ever being ordained, but was advised against it. |
| Pope John Paul apparently wanted to issue an infallible statement about the ordination of womenWhile he decreed that Catholics should not even talk about the issue further, the subject could, theoretically, be debated in the future. | Pope John Paul apparently wanted to issue an infallible statement about the ordination of womenWhile he decreed that Catholics should not even talk about the issue further, the subject could, theoretically, be debated in the future. |
| Similarly, says Mr Walsh, papal teaching regarding contraception is not considered by many theologians as falling within the realms of papal infallibility. | Similarly, says Mr Walsh, papal teaching regarding contraception is not considered by many theologians as falling within the realms of papal infallibility. |
| Pope Paul VI's famous 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which condemned contraception, was not issued in the form of an infallible statement by the Pope. | Pope Paul VI's famous 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which condemned contraception, was not issued in the form of an infallible statement by the Pope. |
| "You don't issue infallible statements via a papal encyclical," says Mr Walsh. The issue an infallible statement "you make a dogmatic statement 'ex cathedra' from the chair of Peter". | "You don't issue infallible statements via a papal encyclical," says Mr Walsh. The issue an infallible statement "you make a dogmatic statement 'ex cathedra' from the chair of Peter". |
| So why did the First Vatican Council take the decision to rule on the Pope's infallibility? It's thought the motivation behind it at the time was mainly political, designed to bolster the status of the Pope. By the time the Council convened in 1868, most of the Italian papal states had disappeared. | So why did the First Vatican Council take the decision to rule on the Pope's infallibility? It's thought the motivation behind it at the time was mainly political, designed to bolster the status of the Pope. By the time the Council convened in 1868, most of the Italian papal states had disappeared. |
| And, if the Pope rarely issues an infallible statement, why is it necessary? According to Mr Walsh, it's all down to the way the Church is structured. | And, if the Pope rarely issues an infallible statement, why is it necessary? According to Mr Walsh, it's all down to the way the Church is structured. |
| "The Catholic Church is really a federation of churches," he says. "Each bishop rules his own diocese, but all those bishops are united in the Pope, as the Bishop of Rome. | "The Catholic Church is really a federation of churches," he says. "Each bishop rules his own diocese, but all those bishops are united in the Pope, as the Bishop of Rome. |
| "The bishops are supposed to be united in faith, but when there is division over theological issues, the argument is that the one person who can never fall away from the faith is the pope. He, in a sense, maintains the true faith and will be prevented by the Holy Spirit of 'going into error'." | "The bishops are supposed to be united in faith, but when there is division over theological issues, the argument is that the one person who can never fall away from the faith is the pope. He, in a sense, maintains the true faith and will be prevented by the Holy Spirit of 'going into error'." |
| So, is Pope Benedict likely to make any infallible statements? Unlikely, says Mr Walsh, who believes that the present Pope is averse to the nature of such definitions. | So, is Pope Benedict likely to make any infallible statements? Unlikely, says Mr Walsh, who believes that the present Pope is averse to the nature of such definitions. |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |