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The ChurchEssentials

Does papal infallibility mean the pope is perfect or inerrant?

The Church

The short answer

No. Infallibility means the pope is protected from error when he proclaims a doctrine of faith or morals by a definitive act (CCC 891). It does not mean he cannot sin or cannot make mistakes.

Papal infallibility protects the pope from error when he "proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals" (CCC 891).

It does not make him impeccable, unable to sin, nor inerrant, unable to err in general.