Vague election criteria

Dredgemate · #1 Apr 6, '05, 3:56 am

I had an interesting conversation the other day with my Dad concerning the vagueness of the election criteria for the next Pope. In general, the next Pope will come from the body of Cardinals, but we have been unable to find anything in Canon Law that prohibits anyone from being elected Pope (including women, married men and even non-catholics).

In reading the document Universi Domenici Gregis. I noticed that JPII eliminated the possibility of women becoming Pope by requiring the elected person, if they have not already, first receive episcipal ordination. Since we know that you have to be a Priest first to be a Bishop, that eliminates women. This, however, doesn't eliminate non-Catholics, or even married men. (Granted, if the non-Catholic accepts his appointment his ordination makes him Catholic).

I guess my question is this; If we truly believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding the minds and hearts of the Princes of the Church in election fo the next Supreme Pontif, and given there is little in the way of selection criteria provided to them (as I see it, they have the entire global population to choose from- minus the ladies), would you be able to accept a married Pope, or even a Pope who's background is not Catholic?

Just to cover my bases, I told my boss that if the Conclave elects me, I plan to accept, so I probably wouldn't be able to give him a full two week notice. He's a fellow Catholic, and he understood

tuopaolo · #2 Apr 6, '05, 6:28 am

I agree with your analysis

as does so it would seem this priest:

http://americamagazine.org/papaltransition.cfm#who

"In theory, any man can be elected who is willing to be baptized and ordained a priest and bishop."

If a non-Catholic were offered election he would have to convert in order to accept election. But I wouldn't be surprised if a non-Catholic would convert in that situation since he may see it as a sign from God to be Catholic.

I would not mind a Pope Patrick Buchanan!

Benedictus · #3 Apr 6, '05, 6:35 am

The Pope is by definition the Bishop of Rome, or, more precisely, the Bishop of Rome is also the Pope. Being the Bishop of Rome is, in a sense, logically anterior to being the Pope. Hence, only a Catholic male can be Pope since only a Catholic male can be Bishop of Rome.

tuopaolo · #4 Apr 6, '05, 6:41 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benedictus

The Pope is by definition the Bishop of Rome, or, more precisely, the Bishop of Rome is also the Pope. Being the Bishop of Rome is, in a sense, logically anterior to being the Pope. Hence, only a Catholic male can be Pope since only a Catholic male can be Bishop of Rome.

Benedictus, I think we both realize that -- at least I do. What you may not realize is that a non-Catholic could be offered election while having to convert to Catholicism in order to accept the election. Someone is pope not upon being offered election but only upon accepting election (and being baptized and ordained bishop if necessary). The acceptance of the election would necessarily involve for the non-Catholic a conversion to Catholicism. If a non-Catholic were offered election and was unwilling to convert to Catholicism then by that very fact he would be unable to accept the election.

It's like if a Catholic priest were offered election. If the Catholic priest were unwilling to be ordained bishop then by that very fact he would be unable to accept the election as accepting the election involves doing what is necessary to become the Bishop of Rome (in this case being ordained bishop and in the non-Catholic's case becoming Catholic and if necessary being baptized and/or ordained)

NWUArmyROTC · #5 Apr 6, '05, 6:47 am

I've seen a few places list the criteria. Catholic, unmarried, male. Thus, a layman who is unmarried could be chosen, he would then have to ordained to the diaconate, priesthood, consecrated a bishop and then installed.

David Oatney · #6 Apr 6, '05, 7:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWUArmyROTC

I've seen a few places list the criteria. Catholic, unmarried, male. Thus, a layman who is unmarried could be chosen, he would then have to ordained to the diaconate, priesthood, consecrated a bishop and then installed.

Any male Catholic can be chosen, married or not.

**Ani Ibi** · #7 Apr 6, '05, 6:52 am

Let's say the conclave elected a non-Catholic. Then they would have to get the non-Catholic and ask him "Do you accept?" But the cardinals are not allowed to have contact with anyone but themselves and a few aides. So technically this latter rule excludes them electing a non-Catholic. So Archbishop Desmond Tuto is plum out of luck.

Dredgemate · #8 Apr 6, '05, 7:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ani Ibi

Let's say the conclave elected a non-Catholic. Then they would have to get the non-Catholic and ask him "Do you accept?" But the cardinals are not allowed to have contact with anyone but themselves and a few aides. So technically this latter rule excludes them electing a non-Catholic. So Archbishop Desmond Tuto is plum out of luck.

There not allowed to have contact with onyone outside the conclave during the election, but provisions are in place for the possibility of someone being elected who is outside of the conclave, from Universi Domenici Gregis:
http://ewtn.com/holysee/Interregnum/universi.asp

90. If the person elected resides outside Vatican City, the norms contained in the Ordo Rituum Conclavis are to be observed.

**Ani Ibi** · #9 Apr 6, '05, 7:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dredgemate

There not allowed to have contact with onyone outside the conclave during the election, but provisions are in place for the possibility of someone being elected who is outside of the conclave, from Universi Domenici Gregis:
http://ewtn.com/holysee/Interregnum/universi.asp

90. If the person elected resides outside Vatican City, the norms contained in the Ordo Rituum Conclavis are to be observed.

Thanks for this, Dredge.

Dredgemate · #10 Apr 6, '05, 7:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ani Ibi

Thanks for this, Dredge.

Don't you mean Pope Dredge?

**Ani Ibi** · #11 Apr 6, '05, 7:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dredgemate

Don't you mean Pope Dredge?

While I think Dredge is very highly qualified in terms of knowing election procedure for pope, I am not at liberty to make any commitment as to who I prefer except on the election thread, on pain of immediate excommunication.

Dredgemate · #12 Apr 6, '05, 7:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ani Ibi

While I think Dredge is very highly qualified in terms of knowing election procedure for pope, I am not at liberty to make any commitment as to who I prefer except on the election thread, on pain of immediate excommunication.

Nice!!

dumspirospero · #13 Apr 6, '05, 10:42 pm

In that case, the Seat of Peter would be vacant for at least a year, so the convert could go through RCIA...I do not believe that will ever happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuopaolo

Benedictus, I think we both realize that -- at least I do. What you may not realize is that a non-Catholic could be offered election while having to convert to Catholicism in order to accept the election. Someone is pope not upon being offered election but only upon accepting election (and being baptized and ordained bishop if necessary). The acceptance of the election would necessarily involve for the non-Catholic a conversion to Catholicism. If a non-Catholic were offered election and was unwilling to convert to Catholicism then by that very fact he would be unable to accept the election.

It's like if a Catholic priest were offered election. If the Catholic priest were unwilling to be ordained bishop then by that very fact he would be unable to accept the election as accepting the election involves doing what is necessary to become the Bishop of Rome (in this case being ordained bishop and in the non-Catholic's case becoming Catholic and if necessary being baptized and/or ordained)

tuopaolo · #14 Apr 6, '05, 11:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumspirospero

In that case, the Seat of Peter would be vacant for at least a year, so the convert could go through RCIA...I do not believe that will ever happen.

He wouldn't need to go through RCIA. The requirement to go through RCIA doesn't apply in situations like this. Many people throughout the world btw become Catholic without going through RCIA.

MamaGeek · #15 Apr 6, '05, 7:57 am

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit does not tell the Cardinals who to elect, but give them the grace to together choose a man who will be a good leader for the Church. I can't see them even considering a non-Catholic, or any man who is not already a bishop. While theoretically possible, it's not at all likely.