Vatican I and II: Ecclesial Endeavours of Situating the Concept of ‘Petrine Ministry’ in the Communion Ecclesiology of the Catholic Church

Abstract

This article explores the ecclesiological crisis triggered by the definitions of papal primacy and infallibility in Vatican I, which deepened existing theological and structural issues within the Catholic Church. The centralization of authority in the papacy, devoid of synodal involvement, exacerbated the identity crisis among Catholic Oriental Churches and led to a distortion of the Church’s image, particularly in the Latin Church. The focus on papal infallibility and an over-concentration of decision-making power in the Pope weakened other levels of authority, such as ecumenical councils, further highlighting the need for a more balanced ecclesial structure.