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Line 20: + + + + + + + + + + − In the language of the Catholic Church, these conditions are very specific, and only a few papal teachings are actually considered infallible. Indeed, only one dogma is usually considered to have been taught infallibly by the Pope since the First Vatican Council, that of the Assumption of Mary which was taught in 1950. Certain other historical teachings by past Popes are similarly considered infallible.+ − In spite of this, papal infallibility is often misunderstood by the general public, who think that it means the Pope is ''always'' free of error, or that he is even free of ''sin'', neither of which is actually the case.+ +
You forgot one! (and a half :) - Also grammar mistakes & divided the article up to make it easier.
'''Papal Infallibility''' is the [[Roman Catholic]] dogma that the [[Pope]] is unable to err when he teaches on a certain question of faith or morals.
'''Papal Infallibility''' is the [[Roman Catholic]] dogma that the [[Pope]] is unable to err when he teaches on a certain question of faith or morals.
In order for a teaching by the Pope to be infallible, certain conditions must be fulfilled, as most recently established by the [[First Vatican Council]] in 1871:
== Background ==
Papal infallibility was established during the [[First Vatican Council]] in 1871. At the time, [[Italy]] was being formed and the [[Catholic Church]] was losing its political status in the world. The Church wanted to clarify its authority with regard to these events.
== Conditions for Infallibility ==
In order for a teaching by the Pope to be infallible, certain conditions must be fulfilled:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
*...and it must be a teaching "to be held by the whole Church", such as expressed through a declaration of excommunication on those who refuse the teaching. ("''Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.''")<ref>Ibid., par. 45</ref>
*...and it must be a teaching "to be held by the whole Church", such as expressed through a declaration of excommunication on those who refuse the teaching. ("''Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.''")<ref>Ibid., par. 45</ref>
In the language of the Catholic Church, these conditions are very specific, and only a few papal teachings are actually considered infallible.
== Current Infallible Teachings ==
Since the First Vatican Council, only two infallible teachings have been made:
* Immaculate Conception (the dogma that Mary was born without original sin) - Declared infallible in 1854 by [[Pius IX]]<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_pi09id.htm</ref>
* Assumption (the dogma that after Mary's death, her body was physically raised into heaven) - Declared infallible 1950 by [[Pius XII]]<ref>http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19930324en.html</ref>
In 1994, there were concerns that a letter opposing [[female ordination]] may have been an infallible teaching according to this criteria. However, [[Benedict XVI]] (then known as Cardinal Ratzinger) has rejected these claims.<ref>http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5189&CFID=25384426&CFTOKEN=35942382</ref>
Certain other historical teachings by past Popes are similarly considered infallible.
== Public misunderstandings ==
In spite of these conditions, papal infallibility is often misunderstood by the general public, who think that it means the Pope is ''always'' free of error, or that he is even free of ''sin'', neither of which are actually the case.
== References ==
== References ==