Papacy & the Church
Papal Infallibility
When the Pope solemnly defines a doctrine of faith or morals for the whole Church, the Holy Spirit preserves him from error, a narrow and carefully defined charism.
Catholic teaching
Infallibility does not mean the Pope cannot sin or is inspired to reveal new truths; it means that in narrowly defined ex cathedra pronouncements on faith and morals, God protects the Church's supreme teaching office from binding the faithful to error. This flows from Christ's promise to Peter and the Church.
Biblical foundation
Jesus prays specifically that Peter's faith not fail, so that he may strengthen his brothers. Paul calls the Church, not merely Scripture, the 'pillar and bulwark of truth,' and Christ promises the Spirit will guide the Church into all truth.
Scripture references
Historical evidence
The First Vatican Council formally defined papal infallibility in 1870, but appealed to a consistent tradition of Rome's teaching authority visible already in cases like Pope Leo I's Tome, accepted by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 as expressing apostolic faith.
The Church Fathers
“Peter has spoken thus through Leo.”