How do you know when the Pope is speaking infallibly?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains what papal infallibility actually means and why it happens far less often than many people think. The last time a pope spoke infallibly was on November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Papal infallibility, also called ex cathedra, happens when the pope formally defines a teaching on faith or morals from the chair of Peter. It is not every homily, interview, opinion, or public statement. When it happens, it is clear, formal, and a major moment for the whole Church.
Father Tim also explains why the Assumption mattered so deeply in 1950: in a world wounded by war and ideologies that treated people like disposable parts of a machine, the Church proclaimed that the human body is good, sacred, and made for glory with God.
Papal infallibility is not something to fear. It is a gift Christ gives His Church to protect truth, strengthen faith, and remind us that the Lord continues to guide His people through the papacy.
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