How can the pope change his mind if he's infallible?

Question

This is from the BBC:
Pope reinstates Islam department

The Pope has been repairing damaged relations with Muslims
Pope Benedict XVI has reversed a controversial decision he took a year ago to downgrade the Vatican department which deals with the Islamic world.

The Council for Interreligious Dialogue will be restored to its former position as a department in its own right.

I thought he was infallible? What gives?

I WOULD LIKE SOME CATHOLICS TO ANSWER

Answer 1

I guess whatever he says goes, even when it's the exact opposite of what he said before, eh?

Answer 2

God is infalible, the Pope is a human ruled by some other teaching that is not the one taught by the Apostles. As the Apostles never taught Christmas, Easter, calling a man Father, kneeling to images, worshiping Mary and many other false teachings that are not in scripture.

Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich. (1 Timothy 6:4)

God Bless You

Answer 3

the doctrine of infallibilty is very specific the pope himself is not infalliable.

the doctrine states the office of the Papacy is infalliable (protected by the Holy Spirit from declaring false teachings) when speaking on matters of morals and faith (dogmatic teachings) under very specific conditions.

First he must be speaking as an official leader of the Church.

Second he must be speaking to the faithful.

Third it has to be specifically on matters of faith and morals for interpretations.

Fourth it has to go through the congregation for the doctrine of faith.

Five it has to be officially declared an infalliable teaching.

Only two things have ever been declared infallible in Church history.

The Pope is NOT infallible in anything else.

This has been explained hundereds of times on YA why don;t people get it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility

Answer 4

The Pope isn't in a perpetual state of infallibility. Check it out:

"891 "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. When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for belief as being divinely revealed," and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of faith." This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself."

Answer 5

the pope is only infallible when 1-he's taking about matters of faith and morals, 2-when speaking ex cathedra, and 3- invoking papal infallibility.

its not like he can say "Yankees are gonna win the world series this year"

so theres no infallibility in this case


and im catholic

Answer 6

Infallibility is only when he speaks on issues of morals and doctrine and is only in rare cases. Since 1870 this power of the pope has been used only once. It is in actuality, the Church saying that the pope is able to make decrees of belief for the Church and that the Holy Spirit will protect him from error.

Answer 7

I am not a catholic but I used to be one...and the pope is just the head of an organization. They are conducting the catholic religion from rome. They are losing many devotees now and are having to close many churches for lack of attendance.

God is our only father. He told us to call no religious figure our father on earth.....so the priests are not to be called father but brother for we are all brothers..in fact Jesus told us he was our brother...The pope is not to be called holy father for only one is holy Jehovah God, Sovereign of the Universe.

More importantly he is not God's representative on earth. He is an idol worshiper.

Answer 8

The pope is not infallible; he is only just a mere imperfect man as we all are. Imperfect men are not infallible; they are with error.

Who told you that?

Answer 9

Guess the pope who said that popes are infallible was wrong.

Answer 10

Catholics cant answer there own questions . I believe in Jesus but i cant understand how one man would kiss the hand of another man thinking he is closer to God then any other man. False profit ?