papal infallibility

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. the dogma that the pope cannot err in a solemn teaching addressed to the whole church on a matter of faith or morals.

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infallibility, papal Cultural  

1. The belief of the Roman Catholic Church that the pope is kept by God from making a mistake when he speaks on a question of faith or morals.

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Etymology

Origin of papal infallibility

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

As for the Eleventh Commandment, it now achieved a status comparable to the doctrine of papal infallibility.

From Salon

In recent years, papal infallibility, a concept officially codified by Pius IX nearly 150 years ago, seems to have been supplanted by papal apology.

From New York Times

The Catholic Church believes in papal infallibility on the very few and rare instances in which he speaks ex cathedra.

From New York Times

They don’t care whether Barrett secretly holds the Greek Orthodox position on papal infallibility.

From Washington Post

“The Doctrine of Papal Infallibility” John Freymann traces the origins and development of papal infallibility, placing it a historical context and drawing out its theological implications.

From Washington Post