The incoming prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal-designate Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández was interviewed by email by Edward Pentin on Sept. 8th. Read the full interview at NCRegister.com

In this post, I will discuss the assertion of Bishop Fernandez that each Pope has a special charism to safeguard the deposit of faith. I believe this refers to the “charism of truth and never failing faith” taught by Vatican I, and also taught throughout the history of the Church. And, as Fernandez points out, no other individual has this charism, and so no one can judge and condemn decisions of the papal magisterium.

Fernandez: “When we speak of obedience to the magisterium, this is understood in at least two senses, which are inseparable and equally important. One is the more static sense, of a “deposit of faith,” which we must guard and preserve unscathed. But on the other hand, there is a particular charism for this safeguarding, a unique charism, which the Lord has given only to Peter and his successors.

“In this case, we are not talking about a deposit, but about a living and active gift, which is at work in the person of the Holy Father. I do not have this charism, nor do you, nor does Cardinal Burke. Today only Pope Francis has it. Now, if you tell me that some bishops have a special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father, we will enter into a vicious circle (where anyone can claim to have the true doctrine) and that would be heresy and schism. Remember that heretics always think they know the true doctrine of the Church. Unfortunately, today, not only do some progressives fall into this error but also, paradoxically, do some traditionalist groups.”

So in response to the papal opponents, who accuse Pope Francis of teaching grave errors, Bishop Fernandez explains that only the Pope has this charism. Those who think that the Pope has erred gravely are behaving as if they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit” to judge doctrine without grave error, but only the Pope has such a gift, a charism. These papal opponents claim to be safeguarding the truths of the deposit of faith, as if they have that charism, but only Peter and his successors have the charism to teach without grave error from the deposit of faith.

I would add to what Fernandez said that the body of Bishops, teaching with the Pope, participate in this charism, but only as a body. As Fernandez said, no individual Bishop other than the Pope has the charism.

edited to add: On Sept. 13, Fernandez clarified the above discussed remarks, saying:

“Only to Peter did Jesus Christ promise special assistance to ‘confirm the brethren in the faith.’ Therefore, it seems obvious that no one can say — directly or indirectly — that Francis does not have this assistance and that other, supposedly more orthodox bishops or priests, do have it. No one can attribute to himself this function and this charism that are proper only to the successor of Peter. This is quite obvious to a Catholic, but certainly not to a Protestant.”

In this way, Fernandez indicates that the charism to which he refers is that of Luke 22:32, which is the charism of truth and never failing faith, which not only protects the exercise of the Keys of Peter by each and every Pope, but also has the effect, from the same charism, to confirm the Bishops in the true faith. Those few Bishops who oppose the Pope are refusing to be confirmed in the faith and are rejecting the teaching of Christ and His Church that each Pope has protection from grave error.

Ronald L Conte Jr