8.43. Haven’t the post-Vatican II popes just made some mistakes—but they still have papal authority, right?
The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth, the visible head of the Church, and the guardian of the deposit of faith. He cannot teach error to the universal Church in matters of faith and morals, and his universal laws, liturgy, and decisions—though not always infallible—are always safe and free from heresy. This is part of the Church’s indefectibility and the promises of Christ:
“Thou art Peter… the gates of hell shall not prevail.”
But after Vatican II, the so-called “popes” (from John XXIII to Leo XIV) have taught heresies, promulgated false worship, canonized scandalous figures, and promoted interreligious indifferentism—all of which are impossible for a true pope. Catholic doctrine tells us that if a man publicly embraces heresy, he cannot hold papal office (cf. St. Robert Bellarmine, Pope Paul IV).
Below is a side-by-side comparison of how the papacy was understood, taught, and exercised before Vatican II, versus how it is abused and distorted by the post-conciliar “popes.”
| Category | True Papacy (Pre-Vatican II) | Post-Vatican II “Popes” | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of Office | Vicar of Christ; supreme visible head of the Church | “First among equals,” “guarantor of unity” within pluralistic “communion” | The post-Vatican II concept of the papacy contradicts the monarchical and divinely instituted nature of the office |
| Teaching Authority | Cannot teach error to the universal Church on faith or morals (even when not ex cathedra) | Issues encyclicals and catechisms filled with heresies, ambiguities, and ecumenical falsehoods | If a “pope” teaches heresy to the whole Church, he cannot be the rule of faith or true pope |
| Infallibility | Protected from error when defining dogma; all teachings must be at least safe | Claims to avoid definitions to allow “dialogue” and pastoral “development” of doctrine | Infallibility is treated as optional, while heresy is tolerated—this is not how a pope guards the faith |
| Discipline & Liturgy | Imposes safe, reverent rites (e.g., Latin Mass); upholds laws that protect the faith | Promulgates the Novus Ordo, allows sacrilege, removes safeguards (e.g., Communion in the hand) | The Church teaches she cannot give evil liturgy or dangerous laws—yet the Vatican II “popes” did exactly that |
| Canonizations | Canonized saints of heroic virtue and traditional holiness | Canonizes promoters of false ecumenism (e.g. John Paul II), and defenders of Vatican II | Canonizations are part of the magisterium; if these “saints” are in heaven, then modernism is holy |
| Ecumenism | Condemned religious indifferentism; upheld *Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus* | Prays with Jews, Muslims, Protestants, pagans; praises all religions as “paths to God” | This is condemned by *Mortalium Animos* and countless magisterial teachings |
| Relation to Other Religions | Calls false religions “pernicious sects” and “diabolical errors” | Calls them “means of salvation” and praises their founders and texts | To claim other religions lead to salvation is formal heresy and apostasy |
| Role as Rule of Faith | Visible standard of truth and doctrinal security | Source of confusion, scandal, doctrinal ambiguity, and contradiction | True popes confirm the brethren in the faith; false claimants destroy it |
| Fruits | Doctrinal clarity, vocations, conversions, strong Catholic identity | Massive loss of faith, vocations, and moral collapse | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16). The Vatican II “popes” bear rotten fruit |
| Continuity | Teaches and guards what has always been handed down | Openly “re-interprets” prior teaching in light of modernism | This is rupture, not development—no true pope can rupture the faith |
Summary:
The Catholic doctrine of the papacy, defined by Vatican I, teaches that the pope is the guardian of the deposit of faith, and that his official teachings and laws cannot lead the faithful into error. But since Vatican II, men claiming the papacy have:
Promoted heresies
Imposed false worship
Praised false religions
Undermined Catholic doctrine
These actions are not compatible with the office of a true pope. Therefore, the sedevacantist conclusion is not only reasonable but necessary: the Vatican II “popes” are not true popes, and the true Catholic Church remains intact without them, awaiting a restoration of the visible hierarchy.