Holy Spirit

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puzzledtoo

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Hello folks,
In another thread in the non-Catholic forum someone posted that “only the magisterium of the church is guided by the Holy Spirit.” The Magisterium as I understand is made up of the pope and bishops.
However I remember hearing that the pope is elected by the college of cardinals whose “sole purpose” is to elect the pope. Before they begin this process they say a prayer-not sure if as a group or not-“invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” Why bother with this prayer if they can’t be guided because only the magisterium is guided by the Holy Spirit?
Also it takes a 2/3 vote to elect the pope and this process could take anywhere from hours(earliest recorded election in modern conclave system) to 5-7 days (average?). The longest election was in the 13th century and was nearly 3 years (before the new system and which prompted its use)
With all the votes needed generally to install a new pontiff is the college of cardinals really being guided by the Holy Spirit or politics?
I believe that anytime I help anyone in any way I’m being guided by the Holy Spirit. I believe that we all are led by the Spirit whenever we do good for others. Thank you for reading. Stay safe.
 
Although voting is by men, the Holy Spirit is their guide. Individually, and collectively. I believe the Holy Spirit is truly instrumental and influential.
 
Basically: Only the Pope is infallible as a whole, and even so only in very specific circumstances. The entire Church, however, is considered to be infallible as a body.

The Magesterium is considered infallible because, well, it doesn’t really change anything. Dogma cannot change, and must be consistent throughout history. The job of the Magesterium is to expound upon and interpret doctrine for modern circumstances. However, it does not change any of the actual doctrine itself.
 
The Holy Spirit may inspire the Cardinals when voting for Pope’s, but the free will of the Cardinals is never removed.

It’s why bad Popes have been elected such as from the Borgias.

That being said, the Holy Spirit has protected the Church in that none of the bad popes who were elected, ever changed dogma nor introduced new doctrines that would be contradictory to Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

Jim
 
So I believe it can be said (from what I’m reading here) that the Holy Spirit can and does guide/inspire more than the magisterium of the catholic church? Stay safe.
 
puzzledtoo said:
So I believe it can be said (from what I’m reading here) that the Holy Spirit can and does guide/inspire more than the magisterium of the catholic church? Stay safe.
Click to expand...
The Holy Spirit lives within us all, so of course He inspires others besides the magisterium.

Jim
 
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