Aug 17, 2015
by Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron
The charism of infallibility is a divine gift, so we can confidently respond toand declarethe saving truth of Christ.
This firm conviction about God's unfailing truthfulness is the foundation for placing our unconditional confidence in his revelation of himself and his message. As the Second Vatican Council says, Sacred Revelation, especially Sacred Scripture, is without error.1
Yet, many generations separate us from the original interaction between the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14) and his apostles. How can we confidently identify what the Church teaches today with what Jesus said and did centuries ago?
In my remarks here about the charism of infallibility, I want to respond to this question.
Christ's Promise to Peter
After Peter's confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, Christ replies to him: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Mt 16:18-19).
Our Lord promises that Hell and the Evil One will not defeat the Church. Peter and his successors, in union with their brothers in the Apostolic College, have a special role to play in Christ's fulfilling his pledge. To them in various ways is given the gift of teaching infallibly, that is, of presenting for the supernatural faith of Christians the Gospel unadulterated and without error.
Why Papal Infallibility?
Like any charism, papal infallibility is a gift at the service of the Church. Through this charism, the Holy Father has the special mission and responsibility of preserving the faith for the people of God.
The understanding of papal infallibility has matured throughout the centuries until it was formally codified at the First Vatican Council in 1870 as: The gift of truth and never-failing faith.2 There are three key reasons why the Holy Spirit has bestowed this gift:
1. The pope possesses this gift not to make known some new doctrine, but that, by [the Holy Spirit's] assistance, [the successors of Peter] might religiously guard and faithfully expound the revelation or deposit of faith transmitted by the apostles.3
The charism is given to the pope in his teaching office so that the authentic faith that was taught by Jesus can be passed on faithfully. In the Church, we profess the same faith Peter and the apostles received from Jesus and the same faith for which the martyrs in myriad times and places justifiably laid down their lives.
2. The transmission of the faith has eternal consequences. Therefore, the accurate and complete knowledge of its content is vitally important.
The pope is not infallible for his own sake but rather for the continual salvation and permanent benefit of the Church.4 Hearing the Gospel elicits in us the response: What must I do to be saved? (cf. Acts 16:30). Knowing that our faith has been transmitted to us free from error allows us with sure confidence to respond to the evangelical call with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (cf. Mk 12:30). We do not have to second-guess ourselves about something so important.
3. The Bishop of Rome must ensure the communion of all the Churches. He is the first servant of unity.5 The pope's charism of infallibility gives all local Churches confidence that they remain in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic faith. Peter's primacy and infallibility provide a stable foundation for Christ's Church.6
What Are the Conditions of Infallibility?
This infallibility is not tied to every statement our Holy Father makes. There are certain conditions outlined for us to know when he is exercising this charism in its fullest way:
1. The pope exercises the charism of infallibility when he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair), that is, in his official capacity.
2. Papal infallibility is constrained to only a certain area: The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office when . . . he proclaims in an absolute decision a doctrine pertaining to faith and morals.7 The pope is not infallible if he speaks about chemistry or calculus. It is only in the arena where our salvation is played outfaith and morals. This is, again, to preserve untarnished the knowledge of salvation (cf. 1 Tm 2:4).
3. His exercise of this charism must be clear: By virtue of his office, the Supreme Pontiff possesses infallibility in teaching when . . .
he proclaims by definitive act that a doctrine of faith and morals must be upheld.8
Who Possesses Infallibility?
The charism of infallibility is given to the Holy Father as we've seen above, but he is not the only possessor of this charism. The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme teaching office.9
On analogy with the pope's extraordinary exercise of the charism of infallibility in his teaching ex cathedra is the case of the bishops, in union with the pope, speaking infallibly when they teach on faith and morals in a solemn way in an ecumenical council. Most of the solemnly defined truths of our faith have been expressed through this exercise of the infallible universal magisterium.
While these are unusual event—ecumenical councils and infallible papal proclamation—the Church exercises her charism of infallibility through the ordinary magisterium as well. This occurs when the bishops throughout the world and in union with the Holy Father authoritatively present a teaching as part of God's revelation. The consistent and clear teachings, for example, on the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary have never been definitively pronounced by an ecumenical council. Nevertheless, it is infallibly taught through the Church's ordinary magisterium.
A Charism of Confidence
Because the revelation of Jesus Christ is so preciou—nothing less than the offer of eternal salvationGod knew that it must be protected from man's weakness. This protection takes the shape of the gift of infallibility. Were the Church not able to identify definitively what is part of divine revelation about faith and morals, our confidence in Christ's gift to us would be shaken. As Blessed John Henry Newman observed, A revelation is not given, if there be no authority to decide what it is that is given.10 The Church possesses this great charism for the building up of God's people so that together we can proclaim our crucified and risen Lord.
The infallibility of the Church and her magisterium gives all of us the confidence to share the Gospel without puzzling about what to say and the confidence to invite others to respond.
Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron
Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron is Archbishop of Detroit. In November, he was voted to a three-year term as chairman of the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.