Word Of The Day: Ex Cathedra

From Patheos:

Word of the Day: Ex Cathedra


September 4, 2010 by Elizabeth Scalia



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Pius XII, Speaking Ex Cathedra



EX CATHEDRA: Latin; literally “from the chair” – metaphorically denotes an authoritative teaching of the church by a bishop, but this term is most commonly associated with the Bishop of Rome, who is Pope of the Catholic church.



Sometimes confused with “papal infallibility,” the pope speaks ex cathedra, and then makes it very clear that he is doing so. When the pope declares he is speaking ex cathedra, even if he is in opposition to his bishops, it is considered that he is speaking under the infallible influence of the Holy Spirit. It is, as it were, the hammer that is brought down to finally and for all time drive home a particular nail when centuries of debate and discussion have run their course.



Popes have only spoken ex cathedra twice in the long history of the church; on December 8, 1954, Pope Pius IX spoke did so to define the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII spoke “from the chair” of Peter on the the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.