Exclusive claims of papal primacy

In a papal Bull, Pope Boniface VIII (1302) made dogmatic propositions on the unity of the Church, the necessity of belonging to it for the attainment of eternal salvation, the position of the Pope as supreme head of the Church, and the duty thence arising of submission to the Pope in order to belong to the Church and thus to attain salvation. The document seems to fulfill all the requirements of an infallible papal statement as laid down in 1871 at the First Vatican Council. The final line reads: "we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff".

This teaching was largely repeated on a number of later occasions by both councils and popes, notably by the Council of Florence (Decree for the Jacobites, 1442): "(The Holy Roman Church).. firmly believes, professes and "(The Holy Roman Church).. firmly believes, professes and preaches that "no-one remaining outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans", but also Jews, heretics or schismatics, can become partakers of eternal life; but they will go to the "eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels" (Mt. 25:41), unless before the end of their life they are received into it".