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Under which conditions can a pope make an infallible statement on faith or morals?
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papacy
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
In Roman Catholic theology, the doctrine of papal infallibility holds that the pope cannot err when he speaks ex cathedraβa Latin term meaning "from his chair" as the supreme teacher and leader of the church.12
Formally defined as dogma during the First Vatican Council in 1870, this authority is subject to specific conditions. For a statement to be considered infallible, the following must apply:12
- Subject Matter: The teaching must pertain strictly to matters of faith or morals.12
- Intent: The pope must explicitly intend to define a doctrine in a way that demands irrevocable assent from the entire church.2
- Capacity: The pope must be acting in his official capacity as the supreme teacher and successor of St. Peter the Apostle.2
This doctrine is rooted in the belief that the church is guided by the Holy Spirit to remain faithful to the mission entrusted to it by Jesus Christ.2