On Papal Jurisdiction and Infallibility
...We define, therefore, that every assertion contrary to a truth of enlightened faith is
utterly false. Further, the Church, which together with the Apostolic office of teaching,
has received a charge to guard the deposit of faith, derives from God the right and duty
of proscribing false science lest any should be deceived by philosophy and vain fallacy.
Therefore, all faithful Christians are not only forbidden to defend, as legitimate
conclusions of science, such opinions as are known to be contrary to the doctrines,
especially if they have been condemned by the Church, but are altogether to account them
as errors which put on the fallacious appearance of truth.
...Hence we teach and declare that by the appointment of our Lord the Roman Church
possesses a superiority of ordinary power over all other churches and that this power of
jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, which is truly episcopal, is immediate, to which all of
whatever rite and dignity, both pastors and faithful, both individually and collectively,
are bound by their duty of hierarchical subordination and true obedience to submit, not
only in matters which belong to faith and morals, but also those that appertain to the
discipline and government of the Church throughout the world.... This is the teaching of
Catholic truth from which no one can deviate without loss of faith and salvation....
Further, from this supreme power possessed by the Roman Pontiff of governing the universal
Church, it follows that he has the right of free communication with the pastors of the
whole Church and with their flocks, that these may be taught and ruled by him in the way
of salvation. Wherefore we condemn and reject the opinions of those who hold that the
communication between this supreme head and the pastors and their flocks can be lawfully
impeded; or who make this communication subject to the will of the secular power so as to
maintain that whatever is done by the Apostolic See, or by its authority, for the
government of the Church, can not have force or value unless it be confirmed by the assent
of the secular power....
If then, any should say that the Roman Pontiff has the office merely of inspection or
direction, and not full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal Church, not
only in things which belong to faith and morals, but also in those which relate to the
discipline of the Church spread throughout the world; or assert that he possesses merely
the principal part, and not all the fullness of this supreme power; or that this power
which he enjoys is not ordinary and immediate, both over each and all the churches, and
over each and all the pastors and faithful: let him be anathema.
. . . .
We [furthermore] teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed:
that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is,
when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor (i.e. teacher) of all Christians, by
virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith and
morals to be held by the universal Church... is possessed of that infallibility with which
the Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding
faith and morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are
irreformable of themselves and not from the consent of the Church. But if anyone -- which
may God aver t-- presume to contradict this our definition: let him be anathema.
