(ii)
When he defines a doctrine absolutely and finally.
(iii)
When he treats of faith or morals.
(iv)
When he clearly shows his intention of binding the universal
Church.
Infallibility has nothing to do with the personal actions of Popes, their
disciplinary decisions or even their unofficial comments or personal
opinions, even on faith and morals.
It should also be noted that papal
infallibility is a charism that is personal to the Pope and cannot be
communicated, transferred or delegated to any other individual, tribunal or
congregation. Even doctrinal decisions issued by Roman congregations and
approved by the Pope cannot be considered infallible. Only decisions
issued by the Pope himself in his name and which satisfy all four of the
above conditions are infallible.
Third objection: “Was not the doctrine of Papal infallibility invented
in 1870 by the First Vatican Council?”
No. The First Vatican Council simply defined a doctrine that had always
existed in the heart of the Church. This is proven by the fact that the Popes
had made 13 infallible pronouncements before 1870––for example, that of
the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Bl. Pius
IX in 1854.
Furthermore, there exist numerous explicit and formal pronouncements by
ancient ecumenical councils recognizing the finality, and therefore
implicitly the infallibility, of papal definitions:
(i)
The Council of Ephesus (431) declared that they “were compelled”
to condemn Nestorius “by the letter of our holy father and co-
minister, Celestine the Bishop of Rome.”
(ii)
The Council of Chalcedon (451)––“Peter has spoken through Leo.”
(iii)
The Third Council of Constantinople (680)––“Peter has spoken
through Agatho.”
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