Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the definition of papal infallibility lead to the formation of the Old Catholic Church?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Photograph of Pope Pius IX — Pius IX Pius IX is the longest-reigning pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. His pontificate lasted from 1846 to 1878.

The definition of papal infallibility as a dogma during the First Vatican Council in 1870 served as the catalyst for the formation of the Old Catholic Church.

While the doctrine was championed by the Ultramontane party to centralize and strengthen papal authority, it faced significant opposition from theologians and bishops who argued that the definition was inopportune and presented a one-sided view of church authority. A prominent critic, the church historian J.J.I. von Döllinger, remained inflexible after the council and was subsequently excommunicated.

Following the council, those who refused to accept the new dogma withdrew from the Roman Catholic Church. Guided by Döllinger’s principles—which emphasized maintaining the traditions of the undivided church and rejecting what they viewed as arbitrary new articles of faith—these dissenters formed the Old Catholic churches in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. They eventually established an independent episcopal succession by seeking consecration from the Jansenist church in Holland, which had maintained a separate existence since the 18th century.123