Q. 540.  How did the Pope acquire and how was he deprived of the temporal power?  A. The Pope acquired the temporal power in a just manner by the consent of those who had a right to bestow it.  He was deprived of it in an unjust manner by political changes.

Q. 541.  How was the temporal power useful to the Church?  A. The temporal power was useful to the Church (1) because it gave the Pope the complete independence necessary for the government of the Church and for the defense of truth and virtue. (2) It enabled him to do much for the spread of the true religion by giving alms for the establishment and support of Churches and schools in poor or pagan countries.

Q. 542.  What name do we give to the offerings made yearly by the faithful for the support of the Pope and the government of the Church?  A. We call the offerings made yearly by the faithful for the support of the Pope and government of the Church “Peter’s pence.”  It derives its name from the early custom of sending yearly a penny from every house to the successor of St. Peter, as a mark of respect or as an alms for some charity.

Q. 543. {126} What do you mean by the indefectibility of the Church?  A. By the indefectibility of the Church I mean that the Church, as Christ founded it, will last till the end of time.

Q. 544.  What is the difference between the infallibility and indefectibility of the Church?  A. When we say the Church is infallible we mean that it can never teach error while it lasts; but when we say the Church is indefectible, we mean that it will last forever and be infallible forever; that it will always remain as Our Lord founded it and never change the doctrines He taught.

Q. 545.  Did Our Lord Himself make all the laws of the Church?  A. Our Lord Himself did not make all the laws of the Church.  He gave the Church also power to make laws to suit the needs of the times, places or persons as it judged necessary.

Q. 546.  Can the Church change its laws?  A. The Church can, when necessary, change the laws it has itself made, but it cannot change the laws that Christ has made.  Neither can the Church change any doctrine of faith or morals.

Q. 547. {127} In whom are these attributes found in their fullness?  A. These attributes are found in their fullness in the Pope, the visible Head of the Church, whose infallible authority to teach bishops, priests, and people in matters of faith or morals will last to the end of the world.

Q. 548. {128} Has the Church any marks by which it may be known?  A. The Church has four marks by which it may be known:  it is One; it is Holy; it is Catholic; it is Apostolic.

Q. 549. {129} How is the Church One?  A. The Church is One because all its members agree in one faith, are all in one communion, and are all under one head.

Q. 550.  How is it evident that the Church is one in government?  A. It is evident that the Church is one in government, for the faithful in a parish are subject to their pastors, the pastors are subject to the bishops of their dioceses, and the bishops of the world are subject to the Pope.