The Papacy According to the New Catechism of the Catholic Church

Abstract

This essay analyzes the Roman Catholic Church’s official stance on the papacy as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, highlighting its implications for ecumenical dialogue with Lutherans. Brug notes that while the catechism softens its tone toward non-Catholic Christians and acknowledges shared blame for historical divisions, it maintains that salvation is ultimately mediated through the Catholic Church. The pope is still affirmed as the divinely appointed head of the universal church, possessing full, supreme, and infallible authority. Although the catechism allows for the possibility of salvation for non-Christians who seek God sincerely, it denies salvation to those who knowingly reject the Catholic Church. Brug concludes that despite ecumenical gestures, the core doctrines surrounding papal authority and infallibility remain unchanged—summarized by the enduring phrase Roma semper eadem (“Rome always the same”). Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).