INFALLIBILITI OF THE POPE. The decree of the infallibility of the Pope was proclaimed in 1870 at the last meeting of the Vatican Council (q.v.). It was after wards confirmed by the Pope. In the papal bull " Pastor JEternus " it is defined as follows : " Therefore faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Saviour, the exaltation of the Catholic Religion, and the salvation of Christian people, the Sacred Council approving, we teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed, that the Roman Pontiff, when be speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his extreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assist ance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed with for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Poutiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church. But If anyone, which may God avert, presume to con tradict this our definition, let him be anathema " (Pastor
is no doubt correct in claiming that the doctrine is simply the logical consequence of principles already accepted. Its exposition of the doctrine is interesting. " The Pope in himself is subject to error like other men; his in fallibility comes from the spirit of God, which on certain occasions protects him from error in faith and morals. He has no infallibility in merely historical or scientific questions. Even in matters of faith and morals he has no Inspiration, and must use the same means of theologi cal inquiry open to other men. He may err as a private doctor; nor is any immunity from error granted to books which he may write and publish. Even when he speaks with Apostolic authority he may err. The Vatican Council only requires us to believe that God protects him from error in definitions on faith or morals when he imposes a belief on the Universal Church." The doctrine was not accepted unanimously, and led to the formation of the body known as Old Catholics (q.r.). See Schaff-Herzog; William Benham; the Prot. Diet., 1904; the Cath. Dict.