Can a Pope elevate a non-heretical yet minority opinion to the level of dogma?
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The Arian controversy was dealt with at a time when the doctrine of papal infallibility was not yet established. Although it was an ecumenical council which authoritatively declared Trinitarian Orthodoxy, belief was actually mandated by Emperor Theodosius. I doubt whether, during the fourth century, there was ever a time when almost no one in the Church agreed with Trinitarianism or even that it was definitely a minority view. Nevertheless, I think I understand the scenario you see as possible.
Papal infallibility has only ever been invoked on two occasions, so it would be an extremely solemn and exceptional circumstance when a future pope would even consider declaring doctrine ex cathedra. Popes have many ways of leading the Church to a position, without the sledgehammer approach that unnecessary use of papal infallibility would involve.
Take the example of human evolution, which Catholics are now permitted to believe in, but which would have been a minority position within the Church hierarchy only a few decades ago. No pope made any doctrinal pronouncement, but gradually, pope by pope, the papacy led the Church towards accepting evolution as fact, until the possibility of evolution of our species is no longer a minority position within the Church ranks.
It is not possible to predict what all future popes will do, but if a pope ever wants to declare a minority position to be infallible doctrine, I am sure he would first set out to convince the cardinals. With support of the cardinals, he perhaps could speak ex cathedra on the matter, but more likely would call an ecumenical council to determine the matter.
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