Magisterium
The Magisterium is the Catholic Church's teaching authority, exercised by the Pope and bishops in communion with him, responsible for authentically interpreting Scripture and Tradition.
Ordinary and Extraordinary
The Magisterium teaches in two main ways: the "ordinary" Magisterium of everyday preaching and teaching, and the "extraordinary" Magisterium used rarely, as when a pope defines a dogma.
Its Purpose
Catholics believe the Magisterium exists to safeguard the faith handed down from the Apostles from being distorted or lost over time, not to invent new teaching.
Related Saints
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything the Pope says part of the Magisterium?
No — only his formal teaching on faith and morals carries magisterial weight, not his personal opinions or off-the-cuff remarks.
What is papal infallibility?
It's the narrow teaching that the Pope, under very specific conditions, is preserved from error when solemnly defining a doctrine on faith or morals for the whole Church — it does not mean he is sinless or always right about everything.