What May Interfere with Infallibility?
• In the event a person either usurps the position of a Pope, or a Pope loses his authority through willful, formal heresy, decisions made by that usurper or heretic would be null and void and infallibility would obviously not apply. This would be similar to someone claiming they are President of the United States (usurping the position) and trying to pass new laws; any of these new laws would obviously not be binding on citizens of the country. Attempts to usurp the position of Pope has occurred many times throughout Church history. See the article on “Antipopes” in the Catholic Encyclopedia here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01582a.htm Summary When a Pope exercises his office and solemnly declares a doctrine on faith and morals for the whole Church, he is granted “papal infallibility” through that which Our Lord said in Scripture. When the Catholic Church allows teachings on faith and morals to continually propagate among the faithful, this teaching is protected from error by the
