The Vatican Council addressed the issue of the role the pope played in the church. Pius sought to establish two things: that the pope, the Vicar of Christ, has full, direct power over the entire church and its hierarchy; and that when he speaks ex cathedra (“from the chair,” in his capacity as pope), he is infallible. In spite of the liberalism in the church, the pope won the day at the First Vatican Council. Both were made doctrines of the church. Though the liberals disapproved, to many people