Catholics: since when did the Pope become infallible???

Question

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in MAN"
Psalm 118:8

"As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO NOT ONE:"
Romans 3:10

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 just as sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.

Catholics have always believed the Pope was infallible in these closely defined times. They just did not get around to actually writing down that belief as doctrine since relatively recently.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The infallibility of the Pope is widely misunderstood by many. First of all the Pope is not infallible as person. He is not without sin and what he says and does in regard to life is not infallible. The only thing that is considered infallible is when the Pope (with much guidance and support from the bishops and lay people and God) speaks on matters of church doctrine. The most recent being the Immaculate Conception, I believe. But the idea that many have that everything that the Pope says and does is infallible is not true. The church does NOT teach this.

Answer 3

Papal Infallibility does not mean that Pope is infallibile. It is a means by which the Pope can teach in the most definitive ways. Do use this, the Pope must clearly make a statement "ex catedra" - "from the throne."

It has only been used TWICE since it's creation in the mid 19th century - once to declare that Mary was born without the stain of original sin (Immaculate Conception) and once to declare that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven so that no deterioration of death might touch her (Assumption). Both of these teachings really don't change the basis of what Catholics and Christians in general believe - all they do is set in stone some beliefs that help make Mary "worthy" of being the earthly mother of Jesus.

Answer 4

I believe the idea of Papal infallibility was put forth in the 19th century. The founder of a new religion wrote the Pope and stated that he was Jesus returned to earth. The man was the founder of the Bahai faith. At least this is what was told to me by some Bahai people.

Answer 5

I guess it happened in 1870, during one of those freaky Vatican Councils (you never know WHAT they'll come up with!). Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia on papal infallibility:

"In Roman Catholic theology, Papal infallibility is the dogma that the Pope is preserved from error when he solemnly promulgates, or declares, to the Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals.

This doctrine was defined dogmatically in the First Vatican Council of 1870. In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is one of the channels of the Infallibility of the Church. Papal infallibility does not signify that the Pope is impeccable, i.e., that he is specially exempt from liability to sin[1]." (1)

As a former Catholic, I always thought it was idiotic to think of ONE GUY, elected buy a bunch of Cardinals, as "infallible".

Answer 6

i'm not a catholic, but; pope pius IX in 1854 was the first pope to define on his own the doctrine of Mary's immaculate conception, which led the way for him to claim infallibility in 1870.

Answer 7

I am an ex-catholic. As far as I can remember, t'was a self serving proclamation to force obedience from other priests and the faithful in general. As to the exact date, may be some research on Britannica will help.

Answer 8

Since Jesus made Peter the first Pope in Matthew 16:13-19 when He said, "you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven."

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 9

When the Pope declared it was so. Pope Pious XIII if I recall correctly. Recently as well - within the last two hundred years I think....

Answer 10

I believed it since it was beaten into me. By the Sisters of Pain and Suffering