Is the Pope infallible as the Catholic Church used to teach?
Yes. The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times. This miracle only happens when the Pope, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true. This is called “ex cathedra”, literally meaning in Latin “from the chair”. This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matthew 18:18) and “He who hears you hears me” (Luke 10:16). At all other times the Pope can be just as wrong or sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 891: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1s… With love in Christ.
