“Yesterday I asked him whether Our Lord had more than one nature. He said: ‘Just as many as you say, Father.’ Then again I asked him: ‘Supposing the Pope looked up and saw a cloud and said ‘It’s going to rain’, would that be bound to happen?’ ‘Oh, yes, Father.’ ‘But supposing it didn’t?’ He thought a moment and said, “I suppose it would be sort of raining spiritually, only we were too sinful to see it.’”
Rex Mottram on Papal Infallibilty
I believe the next Pope (whoever he may be) will benefit by taking a “less is more” approach: exude simple piety, make clear announcements that are strong and not full of Ecclesi Speak (brilliant term, if I may say so), and focus entirely on the Body of Christ – Church and Eucharist alike.
Do these things and some of the hyperpapalist issues resolve themselves.
I’ve gotten to some debates with priests, and have only had success in showing them what is, if I present an essay written by another priest(!)
There’s a part of that vocation which welcomes being an oracle without question, and a part of our vocation that hopes they are without question.
It’s a Temptation. A priest is only infallible if he repeats what the Church Teaches.
(A meager layperson too can be infallible, but only if-)
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Infallible- being unable to fall.
Only when the Pope speaks “Ex Cathedra” in union with all the bishops in the world.
“…the church is not ours” The church is Jesus Christ’s.
Whatever the Pope says most likely out of context, the Pope himself will be unable to live by his words.