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Question

Rev. Father Angelo,

while thanking you for having replied to me on all the other times I wrote, I wanted to ask you if the Pope, interiorly convinced to follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit, might instead follow his own personal ideas.

Is it theologically possible that this could happen? And, furthermore, is it possible that the Pope could be in bad faith at least on certain occasions?

Many thanks for your reply and best regards.

Fausto


Answer from the priest

Dear Fausto,

1. It is possible that a Pope may be convinced that he is following the directions of the Holy Spirit while actually following his own personal ideas.

Just as it is possible that a Pope might act in bad faith.

Most probably for both hypotheses one could find several cases in the history of the Church.

2. Saint Paul reports that he had to reprimand Saint Peter because of his conduct: before he also ate with the pagans. But when some Jews arrived, he stopped eating with them because he was afraid of causing scandal to the Jews.

There is no doubt that St. Peter acted in good faith. He thought that the Holy Spirit advised him to behave like this, until St. Paul convinced him of the mistake he was making.

3. Here is the text: “In fact, before some came from James, he ate food together with the pagans; but, after their coming, he began to avoid them and to keep aside, for fear of the circumcised.

And the other Jews also imitated him in the simulation, so much so that even Barnabas allowed himself to be drawn into their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they did not behave upright according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all: “If you, who are a Jew, live like the pagans and not in the manner of the Jews” (Gal 2: 12-14).

It should be noted that Saint Peter shows great humility in accepting the correction made to him publicly by Saint Paul.

4. Your question, however, insinuates another question: what is the precise scope of the Pope’s infallibility?

Certainly the Pope enjoys particular assistance from the Holy Spirit because, by receiving the office of the successor of Peter,he also receives the grace of a state that is necessary for the government and for the magisterium.

5. This does not mean that the Pope is infallible in his choices, in his government, in his way of doing and behaving.

He too bears the signs of the old man that we all inherited as a result of original sin.

And that is why he also regularly confesses.

6. With regard to the Magisterium it should be remembered that there are different levels of intervention.

The strongest one is linked to the proclamation of the truths of faith, that is, of dogmas.

Here is what B. Bartmann says about the infallibility of the Magisterium:

“It is the main prerogative of the ecclesiastical magisterium.

It belongs to the entire teaching staff, but not to all its members in the same way: all the Bishops possess it in union with the Pope, but each of them does not use it on their own;

Instead the Pope has it alone, as the personal charism of his function, when, as the supreme doctor of Christianity, he pronounces ex cathedra an obligatory decision for the whole Church regarding the doctrine of faith and morals”(Dogmatic Theology I, 7, 3).

7. Then he continues:

“The infallibility of the episcopal body has always been the universal faith of the Church. That of the Pope was particularly defined.

Regarding the Pope’s infallibility, it is good to remember that it does not mean moral integrity (in his private conduct, editor’s note), nor personal firmness in faith;

moreover, it does not refer to anything else than the teaching acts ex cathedra and is limited to the matter of faith and morals;

it should not be extended to all his teaching, much less to the private ones;

finally, it is not based on positive inspiration, but only on negative assistance, which, as the word (ad-sistere) indicates, presupposes the human activity of studying and searching for the sources of revelation.

The First Vatican Council clearly states this: “In fact, the Holy Spirit was not promised to the successors of Peter so that they might manifest a new doctrine by his revelation, but so that with His assistance they could holily guard and expound faithfully the revelation transmitted to the apostles, that is the deposit of faith” (DS 3070) (Ib.).

Negative assistance means an impediment to deviate.

8. However, the Pope’s Magisterium in matters of faith and morals – even when it does not have the trappings of infallibility – must be received with “religious respect of the mind and will” (Profession of faith and Oath of fidelity) (29.6.1998).

I wish you well, I remind you to the Lord and I bless you.

Father Angelo