In Roman Catholicism, a dogmatic definition is an infallible statement published by a pope or an ecumenical council concerning a matter of faith or morals, the belief in which the Catholic Church requires of all Christians (but Christians who are not Catholics do not recognize the Catholic Church's authority in such matters). The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Infallibility is the ability to be free from error (obtain certainty). ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Catholic Church. ... In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, an ecumenical council is a meeting of the bishops of the whole church convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice. ... This article discusses faith in a religious context. ... Morality is a complex of principles based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which an individual determines whether his or her actions are right or wrong. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christs commandments and is one who faithfully upholds his teachings. ...

Contrary to the stereotype that says that Catholics think everything the pope says is infallible, dogmatic definitions by popes are in fact very rare. Among them are the definition of Pope Pius XII concerning the Assumption of Mary in 1950 and the definition concerning Mary's Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Nevertheless, these dogmatic definitions tend to be divisive; anti-ecumenical Protestants say that if Romanist ecumenism was sincere, it would discard them, but the doctrine of Papal infallibility precludes this possibility. Pope Pius XII (Latin: ), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958), reigned as Pope and sovereign of Vatican City from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ... The Assumption has been a subject of Christian art for centuries According to Roman Catholic theology and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, the body and soul of Mary, the mother of Jesus, venerated by these denominations as the Blessed Virgin Mary or... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic doctrine which asserts that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved by God from the stain of original sin at the time of her own conception. ... The Blessed Pope Pius IX, born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878), was pope for a record pontificate of over 31 years, from June 16, 1846 until his death. ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Infallibility in non-Catholic churches

See infallibility of the Church for an account of the way in which not only Catholic, but also Eastern Orthodox and other churches understand this concept. Infallibility of the Church is the belief that the Holy Spirit will not allow the Church to err in its belief or teaching under certain circumstances. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ...

See also

• Papal infallibility (criteria required of a dogmatic definition)
• dogma
• ex cathedra

click me In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is the dogma that the Pope, when he solemnly defines a matter of faith and morals ex cathedra (that is, officially and as pastor of the universal Church), is correct, and thus does not have the possibility of error. ... Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas) is belief or doctrine held by a religion or any kind of organization to be authoritative. ... In Roman Catholic dogma, the Latin phrase ex cathedra, literally meaning from the throne is applied in Catholic theology to statements made by the pope in his capacity as infallible guide and teacher of the faithful. ...