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 infallibility, papal¹

First recorded in 1865–70