52. By whom are the decisions of the Church given?
Either by the Supreme Head of the Church, the Pope, or by a Council confirmed by the Pope (Short Hist. of Revealed Religion, 36).
53. Are all Christians bound to submit to the decisions of the Pope?
Yes, as often as he decides as Head and Teacher of the whole Church in matters of faith and morals, the Pope is as infallible as the Church herself.
54. Is the Pope infallible?
Yes; the General Council of the Vatican, in 1870, defined that the Pope is infallible when he teaches the Church ex cathedrâ.
55. Is not this a new doctrine?
'No; the Church then defined — that is, solemnly declared in precise words — a doctrine which had always been held and acted on.
In doing this the Church acted just as she had done in the first General Council of Nicea (a.d. 325), when she similarly defined the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ, which had been held and acted on before that date; and as she has acted at other times, in regard to other doctrines, whenever she saw that it was necessary to define them.
56. What is the meaning of the Infallibility of the Pope? Does it mean that he cannot do wrong?
By no means. The Pope is a child of Adam, and, like other men, can have faults and can commit sin. Infallibility refers not to his life and conduct, but to his official teaching of doctrine, and means that in such teaching he cannot fall into error.
57. Are the words of the Pope, therefore, always infallible?
No; the words of the Pope are always to be received with the respect due to his high authority. But they are infallible only when he teaches ex cathedrâ as Pope.
58. When does the Pope speak 'ex cathedrâ'?
The Pope speaks ex cathedrâ when, in the exercise of
