Christianity's top 11 most controversial figures | Pope Pius IX

The pope who invented his infallibility.

By Duncan Robinson Published 06 September 2010

Pope Pius IX was the longest serving of any pope. For 32 years he presided over the Catholic Church and the Papal States. In that time he decided to really muck things about.

He started slowly, by declaring in 1854 that the conception of Jesus was an immaculate one. Before then, Catholics could decide for themselves whether Mary was solely saintly or had sinned once or twice without being accused of heresy. From 1854, however, the Immaculate Conception became dogma and so anyone who disagreed with Pius's interpretation was liable to execution or, if they were really unlucky, excommunication.

It seems pretty obvious that Pius didn't like people objecting to his viewpoints. He disliked it so much that in 1869 Pius summoned the First Vatican Council, where it was decided that, actually, the Pope did know everything and that he was, in fact, completely infallible. This caused some consternation in the Church, even if only two bishops actually voted against the declaration. Outside the church, William Gladstone declared that the church had "forfeited their moral and mental freedom".

By this time, the movement towards Italian unification was in full swing and the days of the Papal States were numbered. King Victor Emmanuel II offered Pius a face-saving compromise, proposing that his troops enter Rome under the guise of protecting the pope. To this offer, Pius replied: "You are all a set of vipers, of whited sepulchres, and wanting in faith." Pius died in 1878. His position was infallible, but his body certainly wasn't.

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4 comments

Thu, 2010-09-09 00:56 — vetnox (not verified)

Completely infallible? NEVER! This is wrong info. The pope is infallible in matters of morals & faith! I would also like documentation as to execution like the gentleman above requests.

Thu, 2010-09-09 03:55 — Karen Kell (not verified)

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 has nothing to do with how Jesus was conceived, or how Mary was conceived, i.e., it has nothing to do with a conception done without sex. The dogma states that Mary was at all times unstained by Original Sin, i.e., the taint of Adam and Eve's sin in Eden, which is shared by all their descendants, did not taint Mary because she was freed of that curse at the moment of her conception in her mother's womb. This was done because she was destined to be the mother of Jesus and it was not fitting that he should come forth from anyone who was polluted in any way.

Tue, 2010-09-14 19:46 — Peter (not verified)

Do some research.

1) He did not invent the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. While it was finalized at the first vatican council, it began over 1000 years earlier with pope Gregory VII. (see "gregorian reforms")

1a) that is not at all what the doctrine of Papal Infallibility is. It does not mean that he is never infallible. It means that the pope can reaffirm certain things by his seat, and its only happened twice. Both had to do with Mary, and were reaffirming long held beliefs about Mary- her conception and her assumption.

2) Thats not what the immaculate conception is. Other commenters have pointed this out, but the fact that you would state such an easily researched fact blatantly incorrectly is appalling.

3) you clearly don't understand how dissent works in the church, let alone excommunication. Please don't write as if you are an authority on something that you don't have enough respect to google.

Mon, 2010-09-06 22:15 — Fred Hass (not verified)

Please provide me with documentation for your claim that,"...anyone who disagreed with Pius's interpretation was liable to execution...".
I don't believe it is true.