ex cathedra

[ eks kuh-thee-druh, kath-i-druh ]

adjective

1. from the seat of authority; with authority: used especially of those pronouncements of the pope that are considered infallible.

ex cathedra

/ ɛks kəˈθiːdrə /

adjective

1. with authority
2. RC Church (of doctrines of faith or morals) defined by the pope as infallibly true, to be accepted by all Catholics

ex cathedra

1. Descriptive term for an official pronouncement from the pope . Ex cathedra is Latin for “from the chair.” Roman Catholics believe that the pope speaks infallibly when speaking ex cathedra on questions of faith or morals, such as when Pope Pius XII declared in 1950 that Mary, the mother of Jesus , was physically taken up to heaven after her death.

Notes

Figuratively, any authoritative pronouncement may be called “ex cathedra.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ex cathedra¹

First recorded in 1810–20, ex cathedra is from Latin ex cathedrā literally, “from the chair”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ex cathedra¹

Latin, literally: from the chair

Example Sentences

The last time a pope issued an ex cathedra decree was in 1950, when Pius XII made the assumption of Mary into heaven an article of faith.

From Washington Post

It is a conviction descended, ex cathedra, from Robert Penn Warren, in his spare masterpiece, “Tell Me a Story.”

From The New Yorker

He is the one who can promulgate dogma and whose papal pronouncements when speaking “ex cathedra” — with the authority of the office — on questions of faith and morals are considered infallible.

From New York Times

Which Catholics believe in the primacy of the Pope's teachings, when he is not speaking ex cathedra?

From New York Times

Mr. Comey’s gnomic, ex cathedra distinction between Mrs. Clinton’s “extremely careless” handling of classified information and the “grossly negligent” standard that would have put her in legal jeopardy probably saved her candidacy.

From Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• authoritative
• conclusive
• definite
• fitting
• formal
• precise
• proper
• valid