One common misconception about the Catholic Church is that: "If the pope says it, Catholics have to believe it."
In fact, St. John Henry Newman spent an entire book explaining why that isn't true.
In 1874, just a few years after the First Vatican Council formally defined the doctrine of papal infallibility, England's former Prime Minister, William Gladstone, accused Catholics of being little more than slaves to the pope. He claimed that Catholics surrendered their freedom of thought and couldn't be loyal citizens because they were bound to believe everything the pope said.
Newman knew better.
Although he personally thought it was the wrong time to formally define papal infallibility, he faithfully accepted the Church's decision once it was made. Then, when Catholics were unfairly criticized, he wrote his famous Letter to the Duke of Norfolk to explain what the Church had always believed.
Papal infallibility does not mean the pope is always right. It does not mean everything he says is inspired. It does not mean Catholics must agree with every opinion, homily, or remark made by a pope.
Instead, the doctrine is actually quite narrow.
The Holy Spirit protects the pope from teaching error only when, as the supreme shepherd of the Church, he definitively proclaims a doctrine of faith or morals that is to be held by the whole Church. These solemn teachings are rare. In fact, the last universally recognized ex cathedra declaration was in 1950, when Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His Church into all truth (John 16:13). Papal infallibility isn't about giving extraordinary powers to one man. It's about Christ faithfully keeping His promise to His Church.
The next time someone says Catholics believe everything the pope says, you'll know the truth. Catholics don't believe the pope is incapable of making mistakes. We believe Christ is faithful to protect His Church when she definitively teaches the faith He entrusted to the Apostles.
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