Chapter III: On the force and character of the Primacy of

the Roman Pontiff._

Wherefore, resting on plain testimonies of the Sacred
Writings, and in agreement with both the plain and express
decrees of our predecessors, the Roman Pontiffs, and of the
General Councils, We renew the definition of the Œcumenical
Council of Florence, in virtue of which all the faithful of
Christ must believe that the Holy Apostolic See and the Roman
Pontiff possesses the Primacy over the whole world, and that
the Roman Pontiff is the successor of Blessed Peter, Prince of
the Apostles, and is true Vicar of Christ, and Head of the
whole Church, and Father and teacher of all Christians; and
that full power was given to him in Blessed Peter to rule,
feed, and govern the Universal Church by Jesus Christ our
Lord: as is also contained in the acts of the General Councils
and in the Sacred Canons. Further we teach and declare that by
the appointment of our Lord the Roman Church possesses the
chief ordinary jurisdiction over all other Churches, and that
this power of jurisdiction possessed by the Roman Pontiff
being truly episcopal is immediate; which all, both pastors
and faithful, both individually and collectively, are bound,
by their duty of hierarchical submission and true obedience,
to obey, not merely in matters which belong to faith and
morals, but also in those that appertain to the discipline and
government of the Church throughout the world, so that the
Church of Christ may be one flock under one supreme pastor
through the preservation of unity both of communion and of
profession of the same faith with the Roman Pontiff. This is
the teaching of Catholic truth, from which no one can deviate
without loss of faith and of salvation. But so far is this
power of the Supreme Pontiff from being any prejudice to the
ordinary power of episcopal jurisdiction, by which the Bishops
who have been set by the Holy Spirit to succeed and hold the
place of the Apostles feed and govern, each his own flock, as
true Pastors, that this episcopal authority is really
asserted, strengthened, and protected by the supreme and
universal Pastor; in accordance with the words of S. Gregory
the Great: My honour is the honour of the whole Church. My
honour is the firm strength of my Brethren, I am then truly
honoured, when due honour is not denied to each of their
number. Further, from this supreme power possessed by the
Roman Pontiff of governing the Universal Church, it follows
that he has the right of free communication with the Pastors
of the whole Church, and with their flocks, that these may be
taught and directed by him in the way of salvation. Wherefore
we condemn and reject the opinions of those who hold that the
communication between this supreme Head and the Pastors and
their flocks can lawfully be impeded; or who represent this
communication as subject to the will of the secular power, so
as to maintain that whatever is done by the Apostolic See, or
by its authority, cannot have force or value, unless it be
confirmed by the assent of the secular power. And since by the
divine right of Apostolic primacy, the Roman Pontiff is placed
over the Universal Church, we further teach and declare that
he is the supreme judge of the faithful, and that in all
causes, the decision of which belongs to the Church, recourse
may be had to his tribunal: and that none may meddle with the
judgment of the Apostolic See, the authority of which is
greater than all other, nor can any lawfully depart from its
judgment. Wherefore they depart from the right course who
assert that it is lawful to appeal from the judgments of the
Roman Pontiffs and an Œcumenical Council, as to an authority
higher than that of the Roman Pontiff.
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If then any shall say that the Roman Pontiff has the office
merely of inspection or direction, and not full and supreme
power of jurisdiction over the Universal Church, not alone in
things which belong to faith and morals, but in those which
relate to the discipline and government of the Church spread
throughout the world; or who assert that he possesses merely
the principal part, and not all the fulness of this supreme
power; or that this power which he enjoys is not ordinary and
immediate, both over each and all the Churches and over each
and all the Pastors and the faithful; let him be anathema.