Magisterium

The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. This authority belongs to the Pope and to the Bishops in communion with him. They are endowed by Jesus Christ with this authority, because of the teaching office, in light of Apostolic Succession. In virtue of this authority, the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him preserve, transmit, and interpret the Word of God.

The Word and the Magisterium
The Magisterium is at the service of the Word of God: It teaches what Jesus Christ has handed on to the Apostles, and what the Apostles have handed on to their successors, in the Name of Jesus Christ. This living transmission is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Author and Interpreter of the Word.

The Extent of the Magisterium
Because of the living transmission of the Word, the Magisterium has the mission, linked to the New Covenant established by God with the Catholic Church in Jesus Christ, to preserve the Church from "deviations and defections" and guarantee the profession of the Faith without error - i.e., to ensure that the Church lives in the Truth. Because of the mission of the Magisterium, the Pope and Bishops have several forms of authority:

Divine assistance is given to the Pope and Bishops when they exercise Extraordinary and Universal Magisterium, Ordinary and Universal Magisterium, and Ordinary Magisterium. The authority of the Magisterium is exercised to the fullest when the Church defines a dogma, and the authority of Magisterium extends even over the "specific precepts of the natural law".