the majesty of Rome. More than this cannot be expected of a Gallican Bishop whom circumstances compel to deal with points like these."[1]
Bossuet's sermon, says his biographer, was received at Rome with approval, real or affected.[2] The Assembly, however, was less successful. Subservient to the will of the temporal power, they made proposals which Rome rejected. But this antagonism between the Gallican Church and Rome led the Assembly to its reassertion of Gallican principles, in the four famous Articles of 1682. To Bossuet was ultimately entrusted the delicate task of formulating the Gallican belief as to the limits of the papal power. Bossuet, representing the Church of France, denied the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. He believed that permanence in the truth was promised to the Roman See as distinguished from its temporary occupant. He maintained that although the Pope himself might be in error, yet that error would not be inherent in the Roman See, and would be corrected by the Church in Council. Above the Pope was the Universal Church. If the Roman See were in error on the faith, it would be brought back to the truth by the other Churches. Rome would quickly perceive its error, and would never fall into heresy or schism. But he denied that Infallibility could be attributed to the occupant of the Roman See. This view was the traditional conviction of the Church of France. Accordingly, when the Assembly formulated its Declaration on the limits of papal power, it expressed itself by Bossuet's aid in the four Articles to the following effect:
1. That the Pope could not release subjects from obedience to the temporal power.[3]
