08/01/2026
THE THREE PILLARS OF CHURCH AUTHORITY
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Apostles, with Saint Peter given a unique role of leadership among them (cf. CCC 880–882). Through apostolic succession, this Church continues across generations, faithfully safeguarding and handing on what Christ revealed.
The Church’s authority rests on three inseparably connected pillars—Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium—often compared to the three legs of a stool, where each supports the others.
Sacred Scripture is the written Word of God, contained in the books of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit and teaching the truth necessary for our salvation (cf. CCC 101–107).
Sacred Tradition is the living transmission of the Gospel entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and handed on in the Church through their successors. It includes teachings, practices, and ways of living the faith that were not written down but preserved under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (cf. CCC 76–83).
The Magisterium is the Church’s teaching authority, exercised by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him. Its role is to authentically interpret the Word of God—whether written in Scripture or handed on in Tradition—without standing above it, but serving it faithfully (cf. CCC 85–87).
Together, Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium form a single sacred deposit of faith. Working in harmony, they ensure that the truth revealed by Christ is preserved, correctly interpreted, and faithfully taught in the life of the Church (cf. CCC 95).