Is the pope infallible

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Jesuspaiditall said:
Well, have you been to Rome? That person whom I heard from has.
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One doesn’t need to go to Rome to see what “that person” so badly misinterpreted; one can go to one’s local Catholic parish and see the same thing - the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. :highprayer:

But, as LDN said, this is for another thread.
 
MelanieAnne said:
I guess you start your own church? Seems like that’s the way it’s done.

The Catholic Church is the one founded by Jesus Christ. All the others are creations of men.
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When did the name “Catholic” originate? The Bible called them Christians(Acts 11), but who added catholic?
 
LDNCatholic said:
Catholic comes from the Greek, meaning universal-representing the whole body of Christians.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism#History_of_use_of_the_term

Hope that helps. The term can be traced as far back as 107 AD, but is likely to have occured beforehand.
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The way the term “catholic” is used by St. Ignatius of Antioch, it seems clear that he means “this united enterprise connected with the Apostles” – as distinguished from “christians” who might have been gnostic or some other oddball expression that called itself “Christian.” And as someone else may have pointed out, Ignatius was evangelized by and served under John the Evangelist himself.
 
Oregooner said:
Steven,

Who’s interpretation of the Bible do you follow? After all, the Bible is just words on paper unless you interpret what those words mean. I judge from your reference to study bible notes that you accept the editors of that particular Bible’s interpretation of what it means. Who are they? Where did they get their authority to interpret Scripture?

Every constitution needs a supreme court. We would never have finality of meaning without some way of determining what the Bible actually says. That is where the Catholic Church comes in. Through the Church’s teaching body in cooperation with the Pope, the correct interpretation of what the Bible means has been preserved for 2000 years.

To get back to the point of this thread, it is helpful to look at papal infallibility in the negative. Jesus’ promise that the gates of Hades will never prevail is the promise that He will protect the Church, even from the Pope if necessary. Christ will not allow any of those who have the opportunity to actually and substantively change the Church’s teachings to do so.

I don’t understand why people think the concept of papal infallibility is an attempted power grab by the Pope when it clearly is a burden on him. The first instance of “papal” infallibility in action takes place in Matthew 16. The next “scene” after Jesus names Simon bar Jonah “Rock” and makes him His chief steward is the situation where Jesus predicts what will happen to Him, namely that He will suffer and die. Peter attempts to use his new authority and tries to prevent it. Jesus’ response? “Get behind me Satan!” Jesus did not allow Peter to stand in the way of His mission and He won’t let the Successor to Peter stand in the way now.

This is why we can rely on the Church’s interpretation of Scripture. It is because Jesus will never let Her leaders monkey with the true meaning.
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We seem to acknowledge the same source and same understanding, (The teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church).

Also, it appears that we share the same understanding of infalability, (I think), unless you’re saying that that you don’t trust that God would prevent the Pope from speaking falsely about faith and morals from the Chair of Peter. I don’t believe that has ever happened, nor does the magesterium believe it is possible. That is the crux of infalibility in my understanding. It is rare indeed that a Pope would find it necessary to invoke this level of proclamation, but if he does, God does not allow fallacy to occur.

I don’t think you and I are arguing. I don’t find anything in your post that I disagree with. I’m a little confused therefore. My guess is that it is due to the particular way I phrased some thought or another in a post of mine. I do try to remember to pray before posting, that whatever I might write will be construed by those who read it, to be the Catholic view on any given topic. I pray to never have my posts be understood to be outside of the beliefs and canons of the Holy Catholic Church. It is never my intention to do so. I am in full communion with the Catholic Church. When my writing is read in any other way, then I have expressed my thoughts improperly. I pray that it will get better as I gain practice in theological expression through written media.

And writing is what I’m BEST at. Can you imagine? You should try to have a coherent conversation with me face to face! It’s not pretty.

😉

Peace to you,

Steven
 
Jesuspaiditall said:
I read it before I joined these forums.(Or at least some of it)
The Bible doesn’t say that the Pope’s doctrine will be infallible, does it?
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Yes, it does.

Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church into all truth (john 16:13). All truth means no error (in matters of faith and morals - the subjects of the gospel).

Technically it is the Church, not just the Pope, which is infallible in its teachings. In its practical application, it means that the magisterium (the teaching authority) of the Church - the bishops (who are the successors to the apostles) in communion with the pope (who is the successor to Peter) - is protected by the Holy Spirit from teaching error in matters of faith and morals.

We believe that Jesus meant what He said, and we believe what He said.

Paul
 
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