MYTH : The Pope Cannot Make Mistakes

Posted by : MW Monday, October 15, 2012

First Vatican Council

The Myth: According to Papal infallibility, the Pope can not make any mistakes – but they have! The Popes once believed that the earth was the center of the universe and we know that is wrong.

This myth has arisen from a misunderstanding of Papal infallibility. This is the actual definition of Papal Infallibility:

The Pope must be making a decree on matters of faith or morals
The declaration must be binding on the whole Church
The Pope must be speaking with the full authority of the Papacy, and not in a personal capacity.

Pope Pius IX (1846 – 1878)

If anyone denies that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ, but says that He is in it only as in a sign, or figure or force, let him be anathema.

The last section of the final sentence “let him be anathema” is a standard phrase that normally appears at the end of an infallible statement. It means “let him be cursed”. Catholics believe that the Pope can err in non-religious matters, and that he has done so on many occasions throughout history.