It is often said Catholics cannot interpret the Bible on their own.
The Papal Encyclical, Divino Afflante Spiritus, of Pope
Pius XII in 1943 attempted to counteract this error by stating
that there are but few texts whose understanding has been
determined by the teaching authority of the Church; and
Catholics do indeed have freedom to interpret the Scriptures.
The Catholic Church has been solicitous over the way in which
the Bible is interpreted. Experience teaches us that it is easy
to find even contradictory meanings from the same Scripture
with an unbridled approach to reading and interpreting the Bible.
St Peter's Basilica