On Papal Infallibility: From Dialogue to Doctrine

Author’s Note: This article utilizes creative writing to convey a conversation between an old priest and a skeptical lay person.

The incense mingled with the age-old wood of the confessional as centuries of prayers absorbed into the grain. The faint chanting filled the church’s dimly lit transept. Between the latticed partition, the silhouette of the old priest emerged.

“Remember,” he began, “God ensures the truth shines through the Holy Father when he speaks on faith and morals.”

“But isn’t there an inherent risk in investing so much authority in one person? What about the antipopes who led the faithful astray?”

The priest’s response was imbued with a deep understanding born of experience. “Infallibility does not exist in isolation,” he said. “It is exercised within the larger Church community. The faithful—bishops, theologians, and laity alike—engage in dialogue and discernment. Additionally, the Magisterium, comprised of the pope and the bishops, provides a framework for interpreting doctrines over time.”

“But,” the figure pressed, “doesn’t this doctrine create a chasm between the pope and the laity? Can the faithful not also receive divine inspiration?”

“Indeed,” the priest replied, “the Holy Spirit guides the entire body of believers, not just the hierarchy. The pope is a focal point, yes, but he doesn’t stand alone.”

“Yet,” the voice questioned again, “how do we reconcile this with the scandals and divisions throughout the Church’s history?”

The priest’s voice softened as if bearing the weight. “Indeed, the history of the papacy is marked by moments of great moral failure. Infallibility, however, is not a guarantee of personal holiness or moral perfection. It is a charism, an extraordinary gift granted by the Holy Spirit in specific instances when the pope speaks from the chair of St. Peter—on matters of faith and morals.”

He paused, allowing his words to settle. “The Church is composed of imperfect human beings, all striving toward holiness. By engaging deeply with Scripture and Tradition, we cultivate authentic faith. And by fostering dialogue, we create an environment where the truth can flourish. This is a shared responsibility, one that all believers partake in.”

The candles cast dancing shadows on the walls. The penitent’s voice came again. “Infallibility applies only in certain limited situations, then?”

“It doesn’t extend to every word spoken,” the priest affirmed. “Infallibility applies only when the pope makes a solemn declaration on faith and morals, speaking definitively to the whole Church.”

“And how do we know when that’s happening?” the penitent asked.

The priest’s tone shifted to that of a teacher. “In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, declaring that Mary was conceived without original sin. This wasn’t a new idea—it was rooted in centuries of tradition and theological reflection. But when the pope made that proclamation, it was born a definitive teaching.”

“But can’t doctrine change over time?” the penitent asked. “How do we know what’s proclaimed today won’t be corrected or recanted tomorrow?”

“The Church is a living body of truth,” the priest answered, “with the pope as one part of the whole. Yes, the Holy Father serves as a focal point, but the truth belongs to the Church collectively. New insights reveal rather than erase layers of truth. In the same way an archaeological dig deepens our understanding of what was already there.”

“Yet we can’t ignore the darker chapters in Church history. The antipopes, the schisms, the divisions—don’t these undermine the idea of infallibility?”

The priest nodded gravely. “Indeed, the Great Schism of 1054 and the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century challenged the unity of the Church and the notion of a singular authority. However, it was precisely in response to such challenges that the doctrine of papal infallibility was formally defined.”

Leaning back slightly, the priest continued, “The First Vatican Council in 1870, during the time of Pius IX, was a time of upheaval. The Church was contending with secularism, skepticism, and nationalism. The formal definition of infallibility was a response to these pressures, a way to reaffirm the pope’s role as the guardian of truth amid the epistemological uncertainties of modernity.”

“And yet,” the figure on the other side persisted, “is it not dangerous to place so much trust in one human? What safeguards exist to prevent the misuse of this power?”

The priest smiled knowingly. “Infallibility properly understood is exercised only within the framework of the Church’s tradition and teaching. Bishops, theologians, and the faithful play crucial roles in discerning truth. The Holy Spirit guides the entire Church, not just the pope.”

“But can the truth not evolve?” the penitent finally asked. “How do we reconcile infallibility with breakthroughs in knowledge and understanding?”

The priest leaned forward. “Revelation is progressive,” he said. “God’s truth unfolds over time, just as creation itself does. New insights help us understand the eternal truths more deeply, but they do not erase what came before. Dogmas are clarified, not contradicted. The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, synthesizes new statements from the raw materials of the deposit of faith.”

As the dialogue continued, the priest began to speak more broadly about the role of the pope within the Church. “The Vicar of Christ is first among equals in the college of cardinals and bishops. There are moments in history when a decision must be made, when a new word must be spoken. When St. Peter made his famous declaration of faith, he was speaking infallibly. In that moment, the Holy Spirit illuminated the eyes of his mind.”

“Confession of faith, then, is a joint enterprise,” the penitent muttered.

The priest’s smile returned. “It is the reconciliation of human agency with divine unction. Confession of faith belongs to the entire Church. Infallibility, when it is exercised, is part of that communal discovery of truth.”

The candles cast their final glow as the murmurs of the choir swelled in the background. The priest’s closing words were spoken with a firm conviction. “God’s grace holds the Church together even as we are each called to be bearers of truth—not just through doctrine but in our daily lives.”

Photo by Sebbi Strauch on Unsplash