Why did the Four Gallican Articles say that a pope’s judgment on faith required the church’s assent?

The Four Gallican Articles, drafted by Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, asserted that a pope’s judgment on doctrinal matters is not to be regarded as infallible without the assent of the total church.12

This position was a core tenet of Gallicanism, a movement that sought to restrict papal power and emphasize the independence of the French Church. By requiring the church's collective agreement, the articles aimed to limit the absolute authority of the pope in matters of faith, reflecting the broader Gallican belief that the pope is subject to the decisions of ecumenical councils and that the church's collective wisdom serves as a necessary check on papal pronouncements.12