Does the doctrine of papal infallibility hold up under rigorous historical and theological scrutiny? Hans Küng, a prominent Swiss Catholic theologian, examines the origins and development of the dogma of infallibility within the Roman Catholic Church. He argues that the concept lacks a firm foundation in scripture or early church tradition, proposing instead a model of the church that emphasizes fallibility and continuous reform.

This work is regarded as a significant and controversial contribution to modern ecclesiology, sparking intense debate within the Catholic Church regarding the limits of authority. The text provides a dense, scholarly challenge to established dogma that remains a central reference point for discussions on church governance and theological integrity.