The Doctrine of God the Sanctifier

Perpetuation of the Hierarchy

The Primacy of St. Peter

#134 Christ appointed the Apostle Peter to be the first of all the Apostles and to be the visible Head of the whole Church, by appointing him immediately and personally to the primacy of jurisdiction.

The Primacy of Jurisdiction of the Pope

#135 According to Christ’s ordinance, Peter is to have successors in his Primacy over the whole Church and for all time.

#136 The successors of Peter in the Primacy are the bishops of Rome.

The Nature of the Papal Primacy

#137 The Pope possesses full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, not merely in matters of faith and morals, but also in Church discipline and in the government of the Church.

Papal Teaching Primacy or Papal Infallibility

#138 The Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra.

The Bishops

#139 By virtue of Divine right the bishops possess an ordinary power of government over their dioceses.

Christ and the Church

#140 Christ founded the Church.

#141 Christ is the Head of the Church.

The Infallibility of the Church

#142 In the final decision on doctrines concerning faith and morals the Church is infallible.

#143 The primary object of the Infallibility is the formally revealed truths of Christian Doctrine concerning faith and morals.

#144 The totality of the Bishops is infallible, when they, either assembled in general council or scattered over the earth, propose a teaching of faith or morals as one to be held by all the faithful.