papal infallibility

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

1. the dogma that the pope cannot err in a solemn teaching addressed to the whole church on a matter of faith or morals.

infallibility, papal

1. The belief of the Roman Catholic Church that the pope is kept by God from making a mistake when he speaks on a question of faith or morals.

Word History and Origins

Origin of papal infallibility¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The misconception that he would do just that stems from the myth that papal infallibility means Catholics must always obey the pope.

From Washington Post

As for the Eleventh Commandment, it now achieved a status comparable to the doctrine of papal infallibility.

From Salon

What's really frightening is that he actually believes that he has this kind of papal infallibility.

From Salon

In recent years, papal infallibility, a concept officially codified by Pius IX nearly 150 years ago, seems to have been supplanted by papal apology.

From New York Times

The Catholic Church believes in papal infallibility on the very few and rare instances in which he speaks ex cathedra.

From New York Times