Church Teaching Q&A | Church History

People will often question "Papal infallibility” and quickly point to Popes who were not the best in many respects. The confusion in the questioners mind generally surrounds two words: Infallibility and impeccability.

by Daniel E. Mayne, Sr., MA | Source: www.saintpaulministries.net

Infallibility is not the absence of sin, impeccability means that someone is incapable of sinning. Do Catholics believe that the Pope does not and cannot sin? No. Have we had Scandalous Popes? Yes, but very few. The Popes infallibility only refers to matters of faith and morals. 

We see Jesus appoint St. Peter as the leader of the church in Matthew 16:18-19. Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. These are symbolic keys which represent a supreme apostolic authority. See Isaiah 22:20-23. The authority of the keys gives Peter alone jurisdiction as supreme shepherd and ruler over all the Church. Also note, Peter’s name is mentioned 195 times in the New Testament; more than all the other Apostles combined. His name is always mentioned first. The primacy of Peter is undeniable. Again Jesus reaffirms St. Peter’s leadership role in the Gospel of John 21:15-17.

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