We've heard a lot about Popes Innocent II and/or Innocent the II endorsing the notion of BoD, but the proponents of BoD ignore this decree from Pope St. Siricius. Unlike those two letters from the Innocents, this was was presented as authoritative papal teaching, addressed to the entire Church, finishing with the statement that what he decreed should be observed by all those who
qui nolunt ab apostolicae petrae, super quam Christus universalem construxit Ecclesiam, soliditate divelli "who do not wish to be severed from the solidity of the Apostolic Rock upon which Christ founded the universal Church." This docuмent seems to meet all the notes of papal infallibility (unlike the other two, which were not addressed to the Universal Church and in which the Popes were clearly opining rather than authoritatively teaching).
Here's the key section.
Sicut sacram ergo paschalem reverentiam in nullo dicimus esse minuendam, ita infantibus qui necdum loqui poterunt per aetatem vel his, quibus in qualibet necessitate opus fuerit sacra unda baptismatis, omni volumus celeritate succurri, ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si negato desiderantibus fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam.
MY TRANSLATION:
"Not to derogate in any way from the respect owed to Easter [my comment: when Baptisms were normally done], so it is our will, in the case of infants who can not yet speak on account of their age, or in the case of those would have any kind of urgent need for the waters of Baptism, that they be given aid with all haste, lest it endanger our souls, were each an every one leaving this world to forfeit "both the kingdom and life" (very literal translation here) by denying the Saving Font to those desiring it."
Notice that he actually uses the term "desire" (vs.
votum) here. His choice of terms is undoubtedly providential, since this teaching effectively shoots down Baptism of "Desire".
He's saying here that "each and every one" or "every single one" of those denied the Sacrament ("wave of Baptism", "water movement of Baptism", another water word like "laver" in Trent) would lose eternal life in the Kingdom while DESIRING to receive it.
In other words, of those desiring to receive it, every single one of them would lose their soul without the Sacrament of Baptism ("water pouring" of Baptism).