A couple of questions (I'm curious)

[LutheranDK]

Disclaimer: This is not to pick a fight, lest anyone accuse me of this. I’m genuinely curious about the questions I’m going to ask:

1: Doesn’t the Roman-Catholic church have a problem in the brief period where there is no pope (that is: When a new pope is being elected)? Because wouldn’t that, from an RC point of view, mean that the Church is without a leader, that Christ no longer has a vicar?

2: Can anyone be elected pope, or does it HAVE to be one of the cardinals that make up the Conclave?

Probably a lot more questions, but these are the two that sprung to mind.
Thanks

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Disclaimer: This is not to pick a fight, lest anyone accuse me of this. I’m genuinely curious about the questions I’m going to ask:

1: Doesn’t the Roman-Catholic church have a problem in the brief period where there is no pope (that is: When a new pope is being elected)? Because wouldn’t that, from an RC point of view, mean that the Church is without a leader, that Christ no longer has a vicar?

2: Can anyone be elected pope, or does it HAVE to be one of the cardinals that make up the Conclave?

Probably a lot more questions, but these are the two that sprung to mind.
Thanks

As for​

• Question 2 - I’m not sure; but I think only cardinals are eligible under the current law (this can change, & often has).
• Question 1 - there’s no problem, because the formal principle of the Church, its unity, & its graces & mission, is Christ (or His Spirit) Himself. Because He is permanent, all that derives from Him continues to exist, & needs only a human officiant to be exercised in the ordinary way: in the present case, the Pope. Once one is elected, what was in abeyance can be exercised by its human officiant again. The same applies to any office: that is why there is true identity of office between successive monarchs or presidents. For all authority is Christ’s - not just that in the Church.
  Hope that helps.

 

[ralphinal]

Disclaimer: This is not to pick a fight, lest anyone accuse me of this. I’m genuinely curious about the questions I’m going to ask:

1: Doesn’t the Roman-Catholic church have a problem in the brief period where there is no pope (that is: When a new pope is being elected)? Because wouldn’t that, from an RC point of view, mean that the Church is without a leader, that Christ no longer has a vicar?

The only way that it could present a problem is if an entire generation or more could go by, as no new bishops could be appointed. This would be on the order of 50+years. Day to day opperations of the CHurch do not generally require a pope. As for the more theological aspect of it, the previous post answered that.

2: Can anyone be elected pope, or does it HAVE to be one of the cardinals that make up the Conclave?

Probably a lot more questions, but these are the two that sprung to mind.
Thanks

In theory, any male who is eledgeable for the priesthood could be elected pope. Currently, as pointed out, only the Cardinals are considered.

 

[Eden]

1. During the interregnum period, the deceased Pope’s assistants, the Cardinals, see to the administrative aspects of running the Holy See until the selection of a new Pope. But all of the specifically Papal duties cease.

You can find more in-depth information about this here:

ewtn.com/HolySee/Interregnum/terms.asp

1. According to certain ancient canons (can. “Oportet”, 3; can. “Nullus”, 4, dist. 79), only cardinals should be chosen pope. However, Alexander III decreed (cap. “Licet”, 6, “De elect.”) that “he, without any exception, is to be acknowledged as pontiff of the Universal Church who has been elected by two-thirds of the cardinals.” As late as 1378, Urban VI was chosen, though not a cardinal (consult, however, Constitut. 50 of Sixtus V “Postquam”, § 2). A layman may also be elected pope, as was Celestine V (1294). Even the election of a married man would not be invalid (c. “Qui uxorem”, 19, caus. 33, Q. 5). Of course, the election of a heretic, schismatic, or female would be null and void. Immediately on the canonical election of a candidate and his acceptance, he is true pope and can exercise full and absolute jurisdiction over the whole Church. A papal election, therefore, needs no confirmation, as the pontiff has no superior on earth.

en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Papal_Elections

Related to this topic, I recently finished listening to the this Teaching Company lecture on the Popes and the Papacy which I would highly recommend, for anyone who interested in learning more about the fascinating history of the Papacy:

teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=6672&pc=Religion

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

the Holy spirit would lead the whole of the Bishops in any urgent matter that would need to be dealt with till N Pope was elected.

And from all that I have ever read any Man can be elected as Pope, He would have to be fast tracked to Priesthood and then Bishop which could be done all in the same day before he officially took the position as Pope.

 

[Cathdefender]

Well a pope can’t live forever, therefore there will always be a small void for a little while until they choose one.
And yes, a cardinal is the only person who can become pope.

 

[c659smith]

Well a pope can’t live forever, therefore there will always be a small void for a little while until they choose one.
And yes, a cardinal is the only person who can become pope.

Wrong a Cardinal is not the only one who can become Pope.

 

[c659smith]

Well a pope can’t live forever, therefore there will always be a small void for a little while until they choose one.
And yes, a cardinal is the only person who can become pope.

B Election

The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals within several weeks after his predecessor’s death. The cardinals are sequestered into a conclave under an oath to keep the voting a secret. This system, many times modified, has been in use since the 11th century, when it definitively replaced the rather haphazard systems that preceded it. Although in theory any baptized male can be elected pope, the cardinals have not gone outside their own number since the 16th century. Until then it was not uncommon to elect as pope individuals who had not yet received priestly ordination.

 

[Cathdefender]

B Election

The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals within several weeks after his predecessor’s death. The cardinals are sequestered into a conclave under an oath to keep the voting a secret. This system, many times modified, has been in use since the 11th century, when it definitively replaced the rather haphazard systems that preceded it. Although in theory any baptized male can be elected pope, the cardinals have not gone outside their own number since the 16th century. Until then it was not uncommon to elect as pope individuals who had not yet received priestly ordination.

The man who is elected pope does not become pope until three conditions are satisfied:

1. Canonically valid election

2… He accepts his election as Roman Pontiff

3…He must be an ordained bishop of the church

Usually the man chosen to become pope **is a cardinal **or at least **a prominent bishop. **

“**If the person elected is not already a Bishop, he shall immediately be ordained Bishop” **(UDG 88)

 

[c659smith]

The man who is elected pope does not become pope until three conditions are satisfied:

1. Canonically valid election

2… He accepts his election as Roman Pontiff

3…He must be an ordained bishop of the church

Usually the man chosen to become pope **is a cardinal **or at least **a prominent bishop. **

“**If the person elected is not already a Bishop, he shall immediately be ordained Bishop” **(UDG 88)

you got it

 

[Cathdefender]

you got it

Thanks…whew.

 

[Spirithound]

1: Doesn’t the Roman-Catholic church have a problem in the brief period where there is no pope (that is: When a new pope is being elected)? Because wouldn’t that, from an RC point of view, mean that the Church is without a leader, that Christ no longer has a vicar?

Indeed, the Church is without a leader for a period of time in between popes. Generally speaking though, the time period is short enough that this does not become a problem. In the past though, it was not unheard of for the Roman people to actually lock up the cardinals until they finally elected someone. Of course, that was after a period of a few years

 

[Peter_J]

Well a pope can’t live forever, therefore there will always be a small void for a little while until they choose one.

I don’t agree that there will necessarily always be a “small void” in the transition from one Pope to the next.

Just theoretically speaking, the system could be changed so that the next Pope is chose while the current Pope still reigns. Then, when the current Pope dies or resigns (or falls into heresy), the “Pope-elect” would instantaneously become Pope.

Not that I think that’s going to happen, but it could.

 

[1ke]

1: Doesn’t the Roman-Catholic church have a problem in the brief period where there is no pope (that is: When a new pope is being elected)? Because wouldn’t that, from an RC point of view, mean that the Church is without a leader, that Christ no longer has a vicar?

No. This is not a problem at all.

2: Can anyone be elected pope, or does it HAVE to be one of the cardinals that make up the Conclave?

No, it does not have to be a cardinal.