Tridentine Profession of Faith

Tridentine Profession of Faith or the Creed of Pius IV, is a summary of the doctrines of the Council of Trent, suggested by that council, prepared by a college of cardinals under the supervision of pope Pius IV, and issued by him, Nov. 13, 1564. It consists of twelve articles, including the Nicene Creed (q.v.), and is put in the form of an individual profession and solemn oath. It is required of all Roman Catholic priests, and public teachers in seminaries, colleges, and universities. It is also used for Protestant converts to the Roman Catholic Church, and hence called the "profession of converts." The 10th article reads, "I acknowledge the holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church as the mother and mistress of all churches; and I promise and swear true obedience to the bishop of Rome as the successor of St. Peter, prince of the apostles, and as the vicar of Jesus Christ." See Latin text in the two papal bulls of Nov. 13 and Dec. 9, 1564, and in Denzinger's Enchiridion, p. 292-294; also a history of this creed by Mohnike, Urkundliche Geschichte der Professio Fidei Tridentince (Greifswald, 1822). SEE TRENT, COUNCIL OF.