IS THE POPE INFALLIBLE?
by: Allen Domelle
On February 28, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world by announcing his retirement. A pope has not retired for over six centuries. The rumors for the reason of his retirement is that he was forced out, or his health is not good. Whatever the reason, it sent shockwaves throughout the Catholic community.
Since he announced his retirement, many experts are struggling with how to handle it. “What is the status of an ex-pope?” asked Ken Pennington, a professor of ecclesiastical and legal history at the Catholic University of America in Washington. “We have no rules about that at all. What is his title? What are his powers? Does he lose infallibility?”
The last question grabbed my attention. The fact that this professor would ask whether the pope is a mere human since he stepped down amazed me. It amazed me, not that he thought he was human, but that he actually thought as pope he was infallible.
Is the pope infallible? This needs to be answered as this is what the Catholic church believes. They believe every edict of the pope are the very words of God. They believe that his position makes him infallible.
Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Notice the word “none.” It didn’t say, “Except the pope.” God’s Word says, “none” are righteous. That means every person who walks the face of this Earth has sinned; this includes the pope.
1 John 1:10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” When the Catholic church professes that the pope is infallible, they are in essence calling God a liar. God says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” If the pope is not a sinner, then this verse is false. If this verse is false, then what other verses in the Scriptures are not true? If I must choose between trusting God’s Word or the pope, I will always trust God’s Word that every man, including the pope, is a sinner.
Moreover, by saying that the pope is infallible, they are saying that he can forgive sin. The Scriptures say in Mark 2:7 “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” One of the accusations of the enemies of Christ who challenged His deity is that only God can forgive sins. They didn’t believe that Jesus Christ was God. Many believe the pope is capable of forgiving one’s sins. Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;” God’s Word teaches that God is the only One Who can forgive sins. When the Catholic community proclaims that the pope is infallible, they are lifting him up to the status of deity which is unscriptural.
So, is the pope infallible? According to the Scriptures, NO! He is a sinner like everyone else. He needs a Saviour like everyone else. If the pope doesn’t put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to save him from his sins, then he will go to Hell like everyone else who rejects Jesus’ atonement for sins. I understand that this may rile those who are friendly towards the Catholics, but it is not a matter of trying to keep people happy, it is a matter of the validity of God’s Word. Proclaiming that the pope is infallible is nothing more than blasphemy.
Always remember that no matter what religion a man may represent, they are still human and in need of a Saviour. Every spiritual leader is at best a sinner. Every spiritual leader will go to Hell if they don’t accept Christ. There is no religious leader who is sinless, and who has reached the level of infallibility. Jesus Christ did not become the Son of God, He always was and will be the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the ONLY One Who is infallible, for He is the Son of God.
Friend, religion will not save any of person. The only thing that determines one’s salvation is what they do with Jesus Christ. If a person accepts Christ as their Saviour without adding works, then they will go to Heaven. Everyone who rejects this will spend an eternity in Hell. Don’t fall for the lies of the world who want to deify the pope and call him infallible. There is One Who is righteous; God. Everyone else is a sinner!
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.