Catholics: What happens if the Pope commits the sin of deceit while speaking "ex cathedra"?

Question

Please don't tell me why it cannot happen. Answer the question: what happens if the Pope lies while speaking "ex cathedra"?

Answer 1

First there have been two attempts by a pope to speak ex cathedra about a lie. One changed his mind the night before the other one mysteriously died. Also the pope is heavily advised by his officials before making such a statement, he does not get up in the morning and say "well I think I will make an infallible statement today."

Anyway in respect to your question if the pope ever did decide to use his privilege to lie, then Catholics should still believe it. However, the chances of that occurring is extremely unlikely and the chances of God letting that occur are extremely unlikely.

Answer 2

For the Pope to speak ex Cathedra,he has to speak out of Catholic Apostolic Tradition and that would preclude lying.

The :cathedra" is not a physical "seat"but speaking in the role of the Vicar of Christ and Steward of the Church as spokesman for Jesus and the whole Church.

Check Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 882,890 and891

This is not like the role of the President and Prophet of LDS,but a role of service and submission to the full Word of God(Bible in Tradition in the Church) and must be obvious and intentional and only in particular cases( exercise of extraordinary magisterium)of definition of faith and morals.

So the Pope, who can lie just like anyone else and in life is not impeccable(sinless),simply could not lie while exercising this charism. You may see the Immaculate Conception and the Marian Assumption as wrong but there is no way that you could show them to be lies or intentional deceptions.

This ex cathedra exercise of infallibillity by the Pope has only happened twice in 2000 years,so it is a much humbler exercise of infallibility than that of many Protestant pastors I have known,some of whom make infallible interpretations and edicts every Sunday.

Answer 3

He'll let you know. There will be a big announcement that he is going to release a Papal Bull, or Encyclical, or some sort of official paper. It would be a big thing. Everyone would know about it well in advance. An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. Now, they are generally addressed to the whole church. The word comes from Latin encyclia meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin of the word "encyclopedia". If the Pope was going to promulgate something really important, it would be done through one of these.

Answer 4

The Truth of the matter is, the pope cannot speak ex-cathedra and lie at the same time.

If you believe it is possible for the pope to speak ex-cathedra and lie at the same time, you are calling God a liar. So, do you really believe God is a liar? That is what you seem to be advocating.

Answer 5

First of all, do you know what is the process involved in speaking 'ex cathedra'?

Let's assume the Pope does deceive - the Church will self correct, as the Holy Spirit is with the Church.

As promised by Jesus - 'the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church'.

Answer 6

Though I am not a Catholic, I am Christian, and everyone sins. The pope is no better than any other human, including Mary. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. However, we can ask for forgiveness because of the blood Jesus shed for our sins.

I am not sure what "ex cathedra" is but it does not matter, a lie is a lie, and all lies are the same to God.

Answer 7

How would we know what would happen? It happened yet, so we don't know what the Church would do. Maybe he would be fired as pope or excommunicated from the Church. Not sure. You'd have to ask the Vatican I guess.

Answer 8

"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

In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility. By a "supernatural sense of faith" the People of God, under the guidance of the Church's living Magisterium, "unfailingly adheres to this faith."

The mission of the Magisterium is linked to the definitive nature of the covenant established by God with his people in Christ. It is this Magisterium's task to preserve God's people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error. Thus, the pastoral duty of the Magisterium is aimed at seeing to it that the People of God abides in the truth that liberates. To fulfill this service, Christ endowed the Church's shepherds with the charism of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. The exercise of this charism takes several forms

Answer 9

He simply cannot. Why do you fix the lottery of answers with a faulty balance?

Answer 10

I think God would take him out first