Hello Father,

I am writing because some argue that modern popes are accused of heresy because of ecumenical dialogue and participation in religious rites outside the Catholic Mass, given that previous councils excommunicated a priori those who committed these acts.

Are Masses invalid if in communion with these popes?

Greetings and thanks for your clarifications.

The Priest’s answer

Dear,

1. The Pope can be accused of heresy if he teaches something that is clearly against the truths of faith, that is, against the dogmas.

2. About that, however, you can stay safe because Jesus Christ prayed for Peter so that his faith would never fail (cf. Luke 22:32).

Therefore, just as in two thousand years no Pope has taught anything contrary to the truth of faith, the same shall be until the end of the world.

That is because Christ does not allow it.

3. Furthermore, a difficult problem would rise up: who has authority over the Pope? No one. Not even an ecumenical council, because a council is ecumenical only if the Pope convenes it.

Anyway, the Pope alone also has power over an ecumenical council, because it is such only if he convenes it and presides over it, either through himself or through a legate.

Finally, the conclusions of a council are valid only if the Pope approves them.

4. Ecumenical dialogue and participation in religious rites are not related with the truths of faith, at all, as they do not even mention them.

One can discuss their appropriateness or inappropriateness. But by themselves, they relate to no truth of faith.

 5. About the decrees by previous councils, it is necessary to distinguish between truths of faith and disciplinary norms.

The former are immutable because they come from God.

The latter have a relative value, in fact subsequent popes or councils have the same power as previous ones and can abrogate them.

6. The communion with the Pope, however necessary and holy, does not affect the validity of the Mass.

For its validity, it suffices to utter the essential words for consecration: “This is my body,” “This is the chalice of my blood.”

That is the reason for the validity of the Masses celebrated by the Orthodox, even if they are not in communion with the Pope, who is considered the antichrist in some patriarchates.

7. Even, no Pope and no Council affirmed that communion with the Pope is necessary for the validity of the Mass.

Nobody is anyone who claims the opposite, that is, he is irrelevant from a theological perspective and, because of that statement, he is heretic, or almost.

I bless you.

Father Angelo

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