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"There is a difference between "material" heresy and "formal" heresy. A Pope can be a "material" heretic -- i.e. he can actually hold personal heretical views (as did John XXII) since a Pope is only infallible when making Ex Cathedra statements to the Universal Church on matters of faith and morals"

Gloria. tv:

https://gloria.tv/post/ccfWZin62bJ13DBwFas3Gwojt/replies

@Dante Alighieri There is a difference between "material" heresy and "formal" heresy. A Pope can be a "material" heretic -- i.e. he can actually hold personal heretical views (as did John XXII) since a Pope is only infallible when making Ex Cathedra statements to the Universal Church on matters of faith and morals.

HOWEVER, a Pope cannot be considered a formal heretic until/unless a duly formed juridical body within the Church examines his alleged "heresies" and requests a retraction or repudiation of any of his positions which are actually found to be contrary to Church doctrine, and only -- if then -- such a Pope refuses to repudiate and/or correct his personally held beliefs.

If such a Pope were to recant his errors and repent of them in such a circumstance, he is not a formal heretic.

And until/unless this happens, lay Catholics simply presume Pope Francis is Pope, since God has given us neither the grace of state, nor the authority to proclaim on such matters.

For us lay Catholics, it's really pretty simple. God will make the truth known to us at such time as it becomes necessary for us to know it; since He has not given us the responsibility or vocation to be declaring upon matters reserved to a juridical body within the Church.

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