Catholics--Do you think the Pope is capable of Error and is in of forgiveness?

Question

I'm not looking for an argument. I want to learn what others believe.

I believe he is human, capable of error, and in need of forgiveness.

Answer 1

The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times.

The Pope is only infallible when he, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true.

This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18) and "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16).

At all other times the Pope can be in error or just as sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Is he capable of personal sin? Yes. He asks God for forgiveness and confesses to a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus (God in the flesh) gave authority to the Apostles to forgive and retain sins and told us to confess our sins to each other. Jesus said that just as he was sent by the Father, so Jesus sends out the Apostles (the first bishops) to do the things that Jesus did to minister to the people. Jesus specifically prayed for Peter and said that He would build His Church on Peter. The Pope is the successor of Peter, the Apostle.

Can the Pope teach a false teaching in regards to faith and morals? No. Because the Holy Spirit guards whoever holds the office of Peter from ever teaching heresy when the Pope is making a solemn formal proclamation (i.e. a Papal encyclical).

Infallibility is not the same as impeccability.

If the Catholic Church taught that no Pope was capable of personal sin there would be no need for the Pope to go to confession and every Pope would automatically be canonized a Saint. But many Popes in history were never declared by the Church to be saints.

The Pope confesses his personal sins to keep himself humble in the service of being the Servant of the Servants of God. Nevertheless, he is guided by the Holy Spirit in whatever he teaches with regard to faith and morals when making a formal solemn proclamation.

This excerpt is from a website that provides detail about Papal infallibility

"What infallibility does do is prevent a pope from solemnly and formally teaching as "truth" something that is, in fact, error. It does not help him know what is true, nor does it "inspire" him to teach what is true. He has to learn the truth the way we all do—through study—though, to be sure, he has certain advantages because of his position." -Catholic Answers
http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

Teachings of the Catholic Church
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/teaching.htm

P.S.
imacatholic2 explained it well.

Answer 3

The Pope is a man and therefor capable of many things, error and forgiveness being among them.

Answer 4

All humans are capable of error, so I would say that includes the Pope. But I doubt that the error would be intentional or of a mortal issue............

Answer 5

Yes i do think he's capable of error. After all there have been Popes who had kids.

Answer 6

Of course he is capable of Error. All are in need of forgiveness. This is what the Catholic Church teaches.......

Did you seem to think otherwise?

Answer 7

The Pope is THE ONE who meditates deeply with GOD, I have no doubt that for example Pope John Paul II was the greatest Pope ever lived. He indeed was inspired by God and a favored one by God. And I do not see anyting JOhn Paul II did as flawed or wrong, not one thing.

I loved my Pope, and in fact I had special blessing from him sent to me through a cousin who actually flew him back to Rome on his last trip to Mexico. I got a picture of Him with his signature and a rosary. And a beautiful message for me that I have a terminal illness, he said: tell your cousin to prepare her soul not her body, her body is not permanent, its our soul we need to work on and heal so that whenour time comes we can meet God prepared and in grace!

NO KIDDING THIS IS TRUE , my family are directors of a major airline that was the chosen one by John Paul II. As director my cousin flew to Rome along with John Paul II and had a private conference with him on board high sky by the clouds. My cousin's comments:

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NOTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD. HIS MERE PRESENCE SPOKE OF GOODNESS AND LOVE AND IT SHAKES THE ENTIRE CORE OFYR BEING.

Only a man that God chooses to be Pope can be better than anybody else and chances of error are nowadays getting lesser and lesser.

WE have a great legacy from Karol Woytila, and his succesor was a great confidant and his right hand before he died.

WE are all inneed of forgiveness for we are all born with thw original sin. But I actuyally consider that Pope John Paul II is a saint and had no flaws , but he did get his dramatic illness and it was so sad to see him go like that. He wanted to still talk , but he couldnt utter a word in his last days . I MISS MY POPE SO JMUCH!

Answer 8

In the end the POPE is a man. Man is to error.. God is to forgive.

Answer 9

How about the Borgia Pope Alexander 6 ( i think) he had people murdered and sired children. How about the last one who doubled the number of saints on all kind of dubious basis. for example Mother Theresa was made a saint on the basis of a miracle that she cured a woman of stomach cancer. Only that woman and her doctors both say she never was diagnosed with stomach cancer or anything like it. Yet the Vatican 'investigated' MT's miracle and approved of the canonization

Answer 10

No man is/was ever will be perfect while walking this earth, but Jesus.
The Bible says that if any man say he is without sin is a lie.

He is faithful and just the forgive you of your sins