Question for Catholics please.?

Question

I'm Catholic and this is about the papacy, so that's why I am looking for answers from other Catholics. Thanks for understanding.

As the Church teaches, when the pope speaks and teaches of the Holy Scripture, he is infallible then. The Holy Spirit guides God's Word and God is infallible....... My question is -
Pope Benedict had written many things while he was Cardinal Ratzinger. He was not ever declared infallible as cardinal. Now as pope, I know of at least 2 of those writings that now have been declared as encyclicals by him. So, am I to understand that these writings when he was a cardinal, as a Catholic, I didn't have to believe them to be infallible but now I am to believe them to believe infallible? His new writings after he became pope I can accept as infallible. But I don't understand how some of his writings from years ago can now be delared infallible. Can any of you explain this to me?

I haven't read them yet. I've only read ones from Pope JPII.

Answer 1

Nothing that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote or said before he was Pope is to be considered infallible.

Should the Pope decide to make an official statement on faith and/or morals that he wishes to declare infallibly (ex cathedra ... from the chair of Peter) he will first clearly announce his intention to do so.

When and if the Pope, together with all the Bishops of the church meet together in a church council, anything they decide together and declare together in writing, is also considered infallible.

Anything else is generally considered opinion, and while the Popes opinion on many matters is very, very significant, such speech or writing is not considered infallible. This category would also typically include encyclicals.

Answer 2

There have only been two infallible pronouncements in the history of the papacy. One was by Pius IX about the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in 1854. The other was by Pius XII about the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, in 1950. That's it. (The next one should be due in about, say, 2046.) There was brief speculation several years ago about John Paul II proclaiming Mary "co-redemptrix" with Christ but either it was rumor or clear heads prevailed, because it didn't happen.

The doctrine of papal "infallibility" was proclaimed by the First Vatican Council of 1870, under duress from Pius IX. It remains controversial to this day. Some say it requires the affirmation of a council of cardinals and bishops, others say the pope can make the proclamation on his own. But it is a solemn proclamation, not made lightly. It rises above the level of administartion and policy to shape the faith itself. John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II never made such a proclamation. Neither has Benedict XVI so far. (If he ever does, you'll know about it.)

Encyclicals, bulls and moto proprios are merely opinions, stronger or weaker, and can be repealed. But not an infallible, "ex cathedra" statement. That's why it is so seldomly employed, and applied only to esoteric subjects, such as the nature of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The chance of new knowledge exposing an error in reasoning or understanding prevents the proclamation of a "truth" that cannot be revoked. It is a burden that I suspect most popes would rather not think about.

Answer 3

When the Pope speaks he does not do so infallibly. When the Pope speaks infallibly, he declares it so. Only Popes can speak infallibly and this has happened few times in the history of the church. To speak infallibly is a serious thing and the Pope does not do so ligthly.

Answer 4

Nothing that Joseph Ratzinger said or published before he was pope can now become "infallible." And nothing that Pope Benedict (Ratzinger) says or published is considered infallible UNLESS he explicitly says that he means the teaching to have that special character.
Pope John Paul never taught anything infallibly and Pope Benedict has not done so either (so far).

Answer 5

You misunderstand. A Pope engages his charism of infallibility when he (a) speaks in his office as a successor of St. Peter (b) defining a issue dealing with Faith or Morals (c) to be believed by all the faithful on pain of mortal sin.

Papal encyclicals are documents written by a man when he is pope, not before. These are authoritative and binding, but not infallible. We may only dissent from them privately if believing them does injury to our conscience, and we may not express our dissent as being Catholic teaching.

Answer 6

Father K is correct. The pope is neither infallible in all he says or writes nor impeccable in his actions.


In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

The Church is only infallible in its doctrine.The Church has made mistakes in the past and could make mistakes in the future.
The Catholic church is anything and everything Jesus said.

Answer 8

No right now I'm being sincere,l I think the Holy Spirit is suppose to lead him but none of his writings are infallible except what he announces as dogma ex-cathedra...

that's what I think Catholic believe

Answer 9

Well, Since we haven`t had divine prophecy since about 400 A.D (when all the prophets then were killed and the Priesthood was taken from the earth)(thus the beginning of the dark ages)
None of what they say is actually from God, but we have been carrying along nicely since. So, It`s all fallible!

The true church, if there is one now, should have the Prieshood restored by the laying of hands, I am still looking for it, until then I will plod along as a catholic..

Answer 10

I'm not even ROMAN Catholic (please be clear in your questions)...and I can answer this one:

The Pope is only infallible when he makes ex cathdra (from the seat, from the throne) pronouncements.

Look it up: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05677a.htm