I Got 95 Theses And the Pope Is One: How Rebellion Can Lead to Reform.. or Chaos.

“If you’re having Church problems, I feel bad for you, son…”

Part I: “I’m a the Pope-a!”

In 1517, Martin Luther dropped a series of propositions for debate that would shake the world harder than a Justin Bieber album shakes a Canadian middle school—The Ninety-Five Theses. These weren’t just theological reflections; they were the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation. While Luther’s initial intent wasn’t to dismantle the Church, it did just that, and his critiques ultimately led to one of the most significant religious shifts in history… and his excommunication from the Catholic Church.

At the core of these propositions are two major issues: “Indulgences” and the authority of the pope. In this two-part discussion, we’re tackling the papacy (we’ll save indulgences for another time—#teaser).

Several of “95 Theses” specifically addressed the role and authority of the pope (the snappy title for this article worked better with “One”… allow me some artistic freedom). And let’s be honest: the Catholic Church has had some questionable popes in its history (Benedict IX—yikes!). But during Luther’s time, the issue wasn’t just about corrupt individuals; it was about the very nature of papal authority and infallibility—concepts that remain contested (and misunderstood) today.

Luther didn’t necessarily hate the pope; he hated what the papacy had become—a system where God’s grace seemed to have a price tag, and Scripture had to pass through layers of human authority before reaching the people. In his view, the pope was an unnecessary barrier between believers and God.

While many of Luther’s initial critiques were legitimate, his movement eventually evolved from reform to outright revolution. The Catholic Church saw his teachings not as an attempt at correction but as a rejection of the divine authority Christ had entrusted to it. That’s why Luther was excommunicated—not because he asked tough questions (Catholic theologians have debated spiritual issues for centuries) but because he refused to submit to the Church’s final judgment.

So, what does the Catholic Church actually teach about the pope? The Vatican’s official doctrine on papal authority is primarily articulated in Pastor Aeternus, a dogmatic constitution (dogma: a Catholic doctrine on steroids) from the First Vatican Council (1870). It states: “According to the testimonies of the Gospel, the primacy of jurisdiction over the entire Church of God was promised and conferred by Christ the Lord immediately and directly to the blessed Apostle Peter.” This teaching is backed by multiple Gospel references (which I’ll link somewhere. I wish I were better at the “interwebs” thing).

The document also clarifies the often misunderstood doctrine of papal infallibility: “The Roman Pontiff, when speaking "ex Cathedra"—that is, when he fulfills the office of Pastor and Doctor of all Christians—by his supreme Apostolic authority defines a doctrine on faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, is endowed, through the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, with that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be instructed in defining doctrine on faith or morals.”

In other words, papal infallibility does not mean the pope is perfect or that everything he says is divinely inspired. It simply means that when he makes an official, binding declaration on faith and morals (ex Cathedra, or “From the Chair” of Peter the Apostle), we have faith that the Holy Spirit ensures he does not screw things up.

How often does this happen? It’s happened twice—when the Pope defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and the Assumption of Mary in 1950. So, contrary to popular belief, almost all of what a pope says is not considered to be infallible by the Catholic Church.

But, because he is kind of a big deal, popes make headlines all the time, and Pope Francis is no exception. He’s spoken out on social issues, sometimes aligning with certain political views and sometimes contradicting them. But listen up: If Pope Francis were to declare that Whataburger is better than In-N-Out, that wouldn’t be an infallible statement (besides, we all know it would be objectively wrong—Double-Double Animal Style for the win). Catholics aren’t required to blindly accept every papal statement. When the pope speaks on social or political issues, Catholics should study the topic, pray for understanding, and discern the Church’s direction... Test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If a pope were to lead the Church in a truly wrong direction, we trust the Holy Spirit would correct the course—just as has happened throughout history.

To Be Continued! Call BS in the comments. God Bless.