High priest use the Urim and Thummim to inquire of God, determine fault,
obtain directions and settle disputes on behalf of the Jewish people.
Whenever the High Priest used the Urim and Thummim, his decisions were
regarded as having come from God and therefore were unquestionable.
Furthermore, this “charism” operated irrespective of the High Priests’
personal holiness.
In the New Testament, the Scriptural texts in support of the doctrine of
Papal infallibility are as follows:
(i)“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (St. Matt. 16:18).
From these words there is no doubt that St. Peter (and logically his
successors) was to be the rock-foundation of the Church and the source of
its indefectibility against the forces of hell. This indefectibility must
include, by implication, protection from doctrinal error, and this protection
cannot be effectively secured without infallibility.
(ii)“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,
but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when
once you have turned back, strengthen your brethren” (St. Luke 22:31-32).
This prayer of Christ was for St. Peter alone, conferring on him (and his
successors) the office of authoritatively strengthening the brethren ––that
is, the other Apostles and the Church in general. As we cannot deny the
efficacy of Christ’s prayer, the implication is that infallibility is also
bestowed.
(iii)“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him,
Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. A
second time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? He said to
him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Tend my sheep.
He said to him the third time, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter felt
hurt because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to
him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to
him, Feed my sheep” (St. John 21:15-17).
Our Lord in these words bestows upon St. Peter (and his successors) the
supreme pastoral charge over all His flock, an authority that undoubtedly
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