[ultima ratio]

The First Vatican Council, Sess. IV, Const. de Ecclesiâ Christi, c. iv, states: "We teach and define that it is a dogma Divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals, and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves and not from the consent of the Church irreformable." (Catholic Encyclopedia)

This Divine assistance, however, "was not promised to the Successors of Peter that by His revelation they might disclose new doctrine." The gift was granted solely to guard the deposit of faith--that is to say, to guard what had always been believed and handed down from apostolic times. It is Tradition that rules the Pontiff, not, as many neo-Catholics would have it, the Pontiff who rules Tradition.

[saradippity]

Thanks. I think I summed it up in the language of the prevailing culture.

Only when he introduces a new "Truth" heretofore not proclaimed as official doctrine/teaching must it be specifically labeled "ex cathedra".

At all other times when he expands,clarifies,illuminates or develops those truths contained in the deposit of faith,"ex-cathedra" is assumed.

In any case,I am glad you are participating again and thanks for the input.