Did Pope Benedict IX have the ability to speak *ex Cathedra*.

As you may know, the Roman Catholic Church declares that it the pope can speak Ex Cathedra.

In short, he can speak without being wrong.

when the Roman pontiff speaks EX CATHEDRA, that is, when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church...

Pope Benedict IX is a fun read.

Highlights

Benedict was the son of Alberic III, Count of Tusculum, and was a nephew of Pope Benedict VIII and Pope John XIX. His father obtained the Papal chair for him by bribing the Romans.

The anti-papal historian Ferdinand Gregorovius wrote that in Benedict, "It seemed as if a demon from hell, in the disguise of a priest, occupied the chair of Peter and profaned the sacred mysteries of religion by his insolent courses."

The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him "a disgrace to the Chair of Peter."

Pope Victor III, in his third book of Dialogues, referred to "his rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts of violence and sodomy. His life as a pope was so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it."

Benedict is usually recognized as having had three terms as pope:

1. The first lasting from his election to his expulsion in favour of Sylvester III (October 1032 – September 1044)

2. The second from his return to his selling the papacy to Gregory VI (April – May 1045)

3. The third from his return after the death of Clement II to the advent of Damasus II (November 1047 – July 1048)

According to Reginald Lane Poole, "In a time of acute political hostility accusations, as we know too well, are made and are believed, which in a calmer time would never have been suggested." He further suggests the credibility of such accusations was determined by probability rather than proof, and a reaction to the Tusculum hegemony. Poole observes that "we have to wait until he had discredited himself by his sale of the Papacy before we hear anything definite about his misdeeds; and the further we go in time and place, the worse his character becomes."

So, if I understand Catholicism correctly, the pope has the unique ability to speak ex cathedra. No one else can do this but a single elected man. In the case of Benedict IX, a single purchaser.

Sometimes.

I often hear Catholics speak about their rich tradition. But I never heard them mention this fella. Does he have true standing with them?

I find all of this fascinating myself. I wrote previously that I think this whole concept of infalliblity is not logically defensible, but that was a while ago. What do you all think?