Catholics, is the Pope's authority final and perfect?

Question

What if he changes the Vatican's stance on an issue (like 'limbo,' recently in the news)?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic; just curious how you guys view this. Were previous Popes wrong?

Answer 1

The Church teaches that the Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair of Peter) in union with the Bishops of the world in matters of faith and morals. Some say this has only been done about 20 times in the past 2000 years.
Not every utterance from the Pope is considered infallible. However, Catholic should take very seriously what the Pope says, but they do not have to consider everything as infallible.
The Pope is our top pastor you might say.

Answer 2

The Pope acted to clarify the theological issues relevant to the theoretical construct of "Limbo" which was never an official doctrine of the church, so was open to interpretation.

Carefully read exactly what he said (not what others say he said) and you should be able to easily see this.

He said nothing that most knowledgeable Catholics didn't already know, for the last 600 years or so.

As to the question of authority, it all depends on how and why the Pope says what he says.

He certainly has the authority.

Whether he chooses to speak infallibly on a subject is another matter entitrely.

This does not appear to be intended as an infallible statement. Merely a pastoral one.

Answer 3

In certain matters.

+ Papal Infallibility +

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 wrong or sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#891
http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

+ Limbo +

The Church has pondered the suggestion of Limbo for a few hundred years and has decided that it is not a good idea. Limbo was never official doctrine.

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:15-16)

For centuries, people have wondered about children who died before they were baptized. The Bible does not explicitly state that they will go to heaven.

Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine and has been rejected.

The Church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when they die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1261

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 4

i trust you've were given to finish somewhat homework. least puzzling Catholics popular the authority of the Pope. The non-Catholic denominations do no longer. genuinely, the Lutheran faith began as subsequently a project to his authority. Luther's purpose replaced into to reform the Catholic church from interior. Failing that, he felt he had no determination even if to split from. lots of Luther's writings are anti-Pope, regularly comparing and outright calling him the AntiChrist. Examples of his writings must be the 95 Theses, the Skalcald Articles, and the hymn "A amazing fort is Our God." The "This international's Prince" stated in this hymn refers back to the flexibility of the Pope in persecuting the fledgling Lutheran church.

Answer 5

The Pope is only a leader for the Catholic Church. Same as all leaders, he is human and clearly what he decides on is opinionated. Since it is an opinion it can be false.

Many popes made grave mistakes, Pope Alexander VI even committed nepotism.

No one is perfect. The most we can do is follow what is right in the teachings.

Answer 6

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).

Limbo has never been a teaching of the Church in the highest degree of certitude. It was a common teaching, but never part of the deposit ot faith.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 7

The Pope's authority has limits. His doctrinal statements are considered "infallible" only when they are made "ex cathedra" (with the authority of the Church) AND what he says is in accordance with Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.
The US Supreme Court actually claims more authority.

Answer 8

The press coverage is misleading. Nothing was changed. The document states, "The conclusion of this study is that there are theological and liturgical reasons to HOPE that infants who die without baptism MAY be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation." (emphasis mine)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070420/ts_nm/pope_limbo_dc_2

This is what the Church said 15 years ago:

"As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: 'Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,' allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism." -- paragraph 1261 of Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm#VI

Limbo was never an official Church teaching, and since we can only "HOPE that infants who die without baptism MAY be saved", the door is still open to the POSSIBILITY that there is another place they may go instead of Heaven.

Answer 9

The Pope is only infallible when he speaks "Ex-cathedra", and Popes do not do that often. Otherwise he is just human like the rest of us.

Answer 10

Well according to NFL players, God is too busy helping them win rather than talking to those who go to church because God is a huge football fan, lol!!! Nah, on a serious note, no human on this Earth can claim to be higher in rank in Gods eyes, I am not catholic (thank God), and apparently it's just another thing for someone to take offense to! So lets cry about it and bann it! totally dumb, I vote for the Church of Denis Leary!