This series of posts is on the topic of my book: The Twelve Papal Charisms

First topic: how many papal charisms are there?

Pope Saint John Paul II speaks of multiple papal charisms:

Pope Saint John Paul II, Audience, 17 March 1993: “This supreme authority of the papal magisterium, which is traditionally defined as apostolic, also in its ordinary exercise, derives from the institutional fact by which the Roman Pontiff is the successor of Peter in the mission of teaching, confirming his brothers and guaranteeing the conformity of the preaching of the Church with the deposit of faith of the Apostles and with the doctrine of Christ. But it also derives from the conviction, matured in the Christian tradition, that the Bishop of Rome is the heir of Peter also in the charisms of special assistance that Jesus assured him when he told him: “I have prayed for you” (Lk 22:32). This means continuous help from the Holy Spirit throughout the exercise of the doctrinal mission, aimed at making the revealed truth and its consequences in human life understood.

“For this reason, the Second Vatican Council affirms that all of the Pope’s teaching deserves to be heard and accepted, even when he does not expound it ex cathedra, but rather presents it in the ordinary exercise of the magisterium with the clear intention of enunciating, recalling, or reaffirming the doctrine of faith. It is a consequence of the institutional fact and of the spiritual inheritance that give the complete dimensions of the succession of Peter.” [323]

Many more quotes on the papacy, and the sources for numbered references: Perennial Catholic Teaching on the Roman Pontiff.

Notice that John Paul II refers to Luke 22:32 by referencing the charism in which the Pope confirms his brethren, the bishops, in the faith. The holy Pontiff also states that there are multiple charisms and that these charisms do not only apply when teaching ex cathedra.

Vatican II, LG 25, calls Papal infallibility a charism as well:

And therefore his definitions, of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church, are justly styled irreformable, since they are pronounced with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, promised to him in blessed Peter, and therefore they need no approval of others, nor do they allow an appeal to any other judgment. For then the Roman Pontiff is not pronouncing judgment as a private person, but as the supreme teacher of the universal Church, in whom the charism of infallibility of the Church itself is individually present, he is expounding or defending a doctrine of Catholic faith.

This charism of infallibility dwells in the person of the Roman Pontiff. I would say the same about all the papal charisms. But the very next sentence in LG 25 above asserts that the body of Bishops also have charisms:

The infallibility promised to the Church resides also in the body of Bishops, when that body exercises the supreme magisterium with the successor of Peter.

Lumen Gentium also teaches that “the individual bishops do not enjoy the prerogative of infallibility”. However, as a body, the Bishops can teach infallibly, but only with the Pope. The body of Bishops cannot exercise the “supreme magisterium” (of teaching infallibly) without the Roman Pontiff. The body of Bishops can teach infallibly by an Ecumenical Council, but only if the Roman Pontiff approves or confirms that teaching. The body of Bishops can teaching infallibly under the ordinary universal magisterium, but only if at least one Roman Pontiff also teaches the same definitively. Here is the teaching of Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 25 on the ordinary universal magisterium:

“Although the individual bishops do not enjoy the prerogative of infallibility, they nevertheless proclaim Christ’s doctrine infallibly whenever, even though dispersed through the world, but still maintaining the bond of communion among themselves and with the successor of Peter, and authentically teaching matters of faith and morals, they are in agreement on one position as definitively to be held.”

The body of Bishops must be in agreement with the Roman Pontiff for a teaching to be infallible under the ordinary universal magisterium. Without the Roman Pontiff, no other bishop or group of bishops can teach infallibly.

Another well-known papal charism is the “charism of truth and never-failing faith” taught by the First Vatican Council. This charism is based on Luke 22:32, and has been taught by the Popes, Councils, Saints, Fathers, and Doctors of the Church continuously from ancient times.

{22:32} But I have prayed for you, so that your faith may not fail, and so that you, once converted, may confirm your brothers.”

See this list of quotes for many examples.

Did Peter’s faith fail at the Passion of Christ, when Peter denied Christ three times? The answer is that Peter was not Roman Pontiff and Vicar of Christ at that time. Peter’s Pontificate began at the ascension of Christ, as is taught by the First Council of Lyons, by Pope Pius XII in Mystical Body of Christ 40, and Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum 11. Peter did not have the papal charisms until he became the first Roman Pontiff at the Ascension of Christ.

How many papal charisms are there? At least several. In my book, I assert, speculatively, that there are 12 papal charisms. However, I will accept whatever the Magisterium teachings on the papal charisms, including their number. The important points of the book are the teachings of the Church on the charisms given to each Roman Pontiff, no matter who he is, and not their number or arrangement.

Here is my list of 12 papal charisms, divided into three sets of 4 related charisms:

A List of the 12 Papal Charisms

— Authority —
1. The Pope has supreme authority over the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
2. The Pope has supreme authority over the body of Bishops and every Council.
3. As the supreme judge of the faithful, the Pope can be judged by no one but God.
4. Papal decisions under his supreme authority allow no appeal.

— Indefectibility —
5. The Pope is the indefectible Rock on which the indefectible Church is founded.
6. The Pope has the charism of truth and never-failing faith, making him indefectible.
7. The Apostolic See is unblemished by any grave error, making his See indefectible.
8. The Pope is the head of the body of Bishops, which is indefectible due to this union.

— Unity —
9. The Pope is one Head with Christ over the Church.
10. The Pope is the principle and foundation of unity of the whole Church.
11. The Pope has the charism to teach infallibly, unifying the faithful in one doctrine.
12. Subjection to the Roman Pontiff is from the necessity of salvation, as it unifies the faithful in Christ.

Here is a link to my book at Amazon: The Twelve Papal Charisms

Ronald L Conte Jr

Those who reject the Papal Magisterium grasp at straws seeking its replacement.