Can the Pope speak ex cathedra about the return of Christ?
Upvote:0
A pope needs to first establish that something can be defined before he defines it.
Pope Pius XII consulted all the world's bishops before defining the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mother, Body and Soul, into heaven, as he relates in Munificentissimus Deus:
- And, since we were dealing with a matter of such great moment and of such importance, we considered it opportune to ask all our venerable brethren in the episcopate directly and authoritatively that each of them should make known to us his mind in a formal statement. Hence, on May 1, 1946, we gave them our letter "Deiparae Virginis Mariae," a letter in which these words are contained: "Do you, venerable brethren, in your outstanding wisdom and prudence, judge that the bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin can be proposed and defined as a dogma of faith? Do you, with your clergy and people, desire it?"
Munificentissimus Deus also gives many proofs from the liturgy, faithful, doctors of the Church, etc., that all support the veracity of the dogma.
A pope cannot define when the world will end because this is contrary to Scripture, which says the the time and hour is only known to the Father in heaven.
Upvote:3
Answer
This question cannot be answered according to the criteria of this site as there is no current Church teaching or Church doctrine that can answer this hypothetical and specific scenario set in the future and at odds with the deposit of faith. And also no one knows what a future Pope will or will not do in a specific situation.
Here is why
Since the question is asking, 'could the Pope then "certify" this person as Christ [come the second time] while speaking ex cathedra?' let's investigate what Popes have said on the second coming of Christ.
2 This twofold dimension, both present and future, of Christ's coming is apparent in his words. In the eschatological discourse which immediately precedes the paschal drama, Jesus predicts: "They will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven" (Mk 13:26-27).
In apocalyptic language clouds signify a theophany: they indicate that the second coming of the Son of Man will not take place in the weakness of flesh, but in divine power. These words of the discourse suggest the ultimate future that will bring history to an end. However, in the answer he gives to the high priest during his trial, Jesus repeats the eschatological prophecy, formulating it in terms of an imminent event: "I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mt 26:64).
4 Christ's resurrection, ascension and the announcement of his second coming have opened new eschatological horizons. In the Last Supper discourse, Jesus says: “I go to prepare a place for you. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (Jn 14:2-3). Therefore, St Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thes 4:16-17).
We have not been told the date of this final event. We must wait patiently for the risen Jesus, who, when asked by the Apostles themselves to restore the kingdom of Israel, answered by inviting them to preach and to bear witness: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8).
The fact that the 'Christ' to be certified 'approached the Vatican, met with the Pope, and convinced him that he was the second coming of Christ' is at odds with what Pope St. John Paul II [the Great] quoting Scripture, has said on the second coming of Christ. For example, 'great power,' 'divine power,' 'in glory,' are absent in the scenario.
When the Pope is said to be infallible it is meant he cannot err when ... [please see below] and since the OP forces one to take into account as a fact a scenario at odds with Scripture and Papal teaching and the dogma of Papal Infallibility itself,
- The possibility of making such an ex-cathedra 'certification'(sic) is wrought with problems because other than the Pope's subjective conviction, there aren't any bases in the deposit of faith to make such a declaration.
- The Pope would not be infallible if he were to certify the 'Christ' as Christ come the second time and that contradicts the dogma of Papal infallibility. Subsequent questions would the arise about the Pope himself.
- According to the dogma of Papal infallibility, even if the Pope were convinced, he would not be able to go ahead and make such a certification because he cannot err in such matters.
Hence there isn't a Church teaching or doctrinal answer for such a future scenario i.e. saying this is what the Pope will or will not do because the Church teaching or doctrine says he will do this or that in such a situation. It is also abundantly clear that no one knows what a future Pope will or will not do in such a scenario.1
1. "It should be observed in conclusion that papal infallibility is a personal and incommunicable charisma, which is not shared by any pontifical tribunal." - Explanation of papal infallibility | Infallibility | New Advent.
Additional Note & Passages On the second coming of Christ
The note USCCB note on Matt 24:3 has in part
Coming: this translates the Greek word parousia, which is used in the gospels only here and in Mt 24:27, 37, 39. It designated the official visit of a ruler to a city or the manifestation of a saving deity, and it was used by Christians to refer to the final coming of Jesus in glory, a term first found in the New Testament with that meaning in 1 Thes 2:19.
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
The following is presented for information
It is important to clear up a few things. Ex-Cathedra declarations are all limited to faith and morals as contained in the deposit of faith handed to the Church by the Apostles.
Simply, if it [faith + morals] wasn't with the Apostles and handed down to the Church, and by the Church from one generation to the next, it CANNOT be part of that which can be declared ex-cathedra as infallible teaching.
If the Pope were to sit on the Chair of Saint Peter and declare that Mr. Obama is the President of the United States of America, he would be telling the truth, and apart from doing a silly thing and misusing his office, he would not have made a infallible declaration, because Mr. Obama being or not being the President of United States of America does not belong to the deposit of the faith. The faithful need not believe that to save their souls.
Please note that Popes in the past have venerated the Shroud of Turin, a fact telling of their inner conviction. Yet even in this case, the said Popes have not declared the Shroud of Turin as the burial Shroud of Jesus. Why? It does not belong to the deposit of faith.
The same can be said of Church approved (because not contrary to the faith) private revelations after the death of the last Apostle.
Some definitions
EX CATHEDRA The term commonly applied to the special and explicit exercise of papal infallibility. When the Pope speaks from the chair (cathedra) of authority, as visible head of all Christians, his teaching is not dependent on the consent of the Church and is irreformable. (Etym. Latin ex cathedra, from the chair.)
What does the Pope teach infallibly?
For that we go to PENNY CATECHISM 92 and 93
Q 92 Is the Pope infallible?
A 92 The Pope is infallible.
Q 93 What do you mean when you say that the Pope is infallible?
A 93 When I say that the Pope is infallible, I mean that the Pope cannot err when, as Shepherd and Teacher of all Christians, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals, to be held by the whole Church.
Where do those faith and morals come from?
From the Sacred Deposit of the faith = Sacred Scripture + Holy Tradition.
More post
- 📝 What is the biblical argument against Papal Succession?
- 📝 What authority can move the celebration days of Easter in the Catholic Church?
- 📝 What is the Anglican teaching on Hell?
- 📝 How should Christians act toward non-Christians?
- 📝 Anglo-Catholics and the Ordinariate
- 📝 What is the emotional appeal of the trinity?
- 📝 Where did the Petrine title of "First Among Equals" originate?
- 📝 In which year did Chesterton write the 'I am' (what's wrong with the world) letter?
- 📝 How do Reformed Calvinists interpret 1 Corinthians 10:13?
- 📝 Why should I choose one particular congregation or denomination?
- 📝 St. Peter Speaking on Behalf of All the Apostles
- 📝 Does Genesis 3 tell of a theophany?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, does the depositum fidei include the proper interpretation of scriptures about Jesus?
- 📝 What constitutes consent to marriage?
- 📝 Can a Catholic have communion if they married outside of the Catholic Church?
- 📝 When Jesus was living on the Earth, was He capable of communicating in all languages?
- 📝 How do (non-Catholic) proponents of an intermediate state interpret 2 Corinthians 5:4-9?
- 📝 Why did Jacob insist that Joseph's sons were his?
- 📝 How do Trinitarians explain verses where Jesus claims to have a God?
- 📝 Who is Mammon whom Jesus warned of in Sermon of the Mount?
- 📝 In Catholicism since when did willfully violating Sunday Mass obligation become mortal sin?
- 📝 Source of Christian attitudes towards fantasy and role playing games
- 📝 What do protestants who believe our old bodies will be resurrected think that will look like?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, why should we pray if God has already decided the best future for all of us?
- 📝 Where did the Young Earth Creationist doctrine originate?
- 📝 Why do some Protestants not read the Old Testament?
- 📝 Early Church on image veneration?
- 📝 Does any denomination believe that it's not possible to be a Christian full of the Holy Spirit without being eventually led by the HS to join them?
- 📝 What's the biblical basis for protesting government mandates that threaten basic democratic rights?
- 📝 What Biblical evidence is there that the Apostles feared for their lives after Jesus was crucified?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Can the Pope speak ex cathedra about the return of Christ?
- 📝 When does the Pope speak ex cathedra?
- 📝 Where can I find out more about other people rising from the dead, when Jesus died on the Cross?
- 📝 Do the Catholic Church ex cathedra pronouncements about necessity of Catholicism to be saved still apply?
- 📝 How can a Pope be chosen from outside the conclave?
- 📝 Under Catholic dogma can someone publicly rebuke the Pope like Paul rebuked Peter?
- 📝 If we want to know what the Bible says about an issue, what methods can help us to find all the relevant scriptures?
- 📝 How does the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about Jesus Christ differ from Protestant Trinitarian Christology?
- 📝 What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach about who Jesus is and where He came from?
- 📝 How can Luke 9:49–50 be reconciled with the idea that Christ is the only way?
- 📝 For Catholics who have expressed concern about Pope Francis and are wary of his pontificate, what are the key issues?
- 📝 What is an overview of different denominations' beliefs about how Jesus Christ performed miracles? (By the Holy Spirit or by something else?)
- 📝 When and how can a pope revoke the decrees of an ecumenical council?
- 📝 Can someone point to a prophecy about the 3 days between the cross and resurrection?
- 📝 What was the pre-Babel language and what can be said about the mechanism used to confuse the languages?
- 📝 Can a Pope elevate a non-heretical yet minority opinion to the level of dogma?
- 📝 How can we be with Christ when we die, if Christ has a glorified body and we won't until the resurrection?
- 📝 Why does the apostle John write far more clearly about the deity of Christ than seems to be the case in the other gospel accounts?
- 📝 Can we know anything about Jesus' appearance from the Bible?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for asserting that infants can have faith in Christ under a Calvinistic framework?
- 📝 Why doesn't the Pope try asserting doctrines ex cathedra to check if they're true?
- 📝 LDS teaching about man being able to become God, and the snake telling Eve that she can become "like God"
- 📝 What are the duties of a Pope? Can a pope be "good" or "bad" in this perspective?
- 📝 Can a person prove that Jesus Christ is in the Old Testament without going to the New Testament?
- 📝 What does the Church say about the statements that the Pope Benedict XVI made in the book "God and the World"?
- 📝 What can be deduced from the Gospel of John about prayer?
- 📝 How do Jehovah’s Witnesses support their belief that only 144,000 persons can be in the New Covenant and go to heaven, there to rule with Christ Jesus
- 📝 According to Catholicism, can the dead in Christ affect this world?
- 📝 How can we tell when Scripture is talking about one of the persons of the Trinity and when it's talking about all three?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church think about God being defined as "that than which nothing greater can be conceived"?