Can an Eastern Catholic become Pope?

[Digitonomy]

Unfortunately, he is too old to participate in the next conclave. So, he will not be elected Pope.

It’s worth noting that all the cardinals get to participate in the various events of the interregnum, and hobnob with the other cardinals. However, you are correct that the conclave itself, which is where the voting takes place, is limited to those under 80. The Conclave is still free to elect the patriarch as pope, but the odds are slim.

I’m also no sure what his experience in Rome has been. A pope benefits by having past intimate experience with the Roman Curia. Probably most Eastern Catholics will lack this. I am curious what the background of the Armenian Catholicos was in this regard.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

A pope benefits by having past intimate experience with the Roman Curia. Probably most Eastern Catholics will lack this.

I don’t think that Pope John Paul II fit this bill either - but alas, he was elected Pope (thanks be to God!).

 

[Digitonomy]

Hello,

Hello.

JMJ_coder:

I don’t think that Pope John Paul II fit this bill either - but alas, he was elected Pope (thanks be to God!).

John Paul was involved in Vatican II for a couple years, and was also on a committee helping to formulate Humanae Vitae. I think the duties assigned to him by Rome went a little deeper than this, but I’m too lazy to look it up at the moment. He was, however, nowhere near the insider that Benedict was before his papacy.

 

[ronyodish]

What would be really funny would be for the Catholicos of the Chaldeans to be elected, as he rejoices in the title of Catholicos of Babylon.

Greetings from a Babylonian I concur that this would indeed be quite amusing

I’m also no sure what his experience in Rome has been. A pope benefits by having past intimate experience with the Roman Curia.

Some info. from here:

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The new cardinal was born in Mosul to a Christian family in which several close relatives also became priests. His maternal grandfather became a priest, as did several cousins. He went to school there until he was 19, when he left for Rome to study. He stayed 14 years, traveling through Europe to holy places and completing his studies. He obtained three degrees — a master’s in philosophy, a doctorate in theology and a doctorate in canon law — and his studies included the Koran.​

God bless,

Rony

 

[belgianwaffles9]

I’m also no sure what his experience in Rome has been. A pope benefits by having past intimate experience with the Roman Curia. Probably most Eastern Catholics will lack this. I am curious what the background of the Armenian Catholicos was in this regard.

Patriarch Emmanuel II Delly was educated in Rome. He has received a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Pontifical Urbaniana University, as well as a Doctorate of Sacred Theology and a Doctorate of Canon Law from Pontifical Lateran University

As for Patriarch Gregory Peter (Agagianian, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch), he had a great deal of experience in Rome:

• studied at the seminary in Tbilisi and the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.
• entered the teaching Faculty of the Pontifical Armenian College in Rome in 1921
• later Rector of the same college from 1932 to 1937.
• elected Patriarch Catholicos of Cilicia of All the Armenians by the Armenian Synod, on November 30, 1937
• February 18, 1946 he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Pius XII.

After the conclave of 1958 in which he was nearly elected Pope, he served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in the Roman Curia from 1958 to 1970.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

Hello.John Paul was involved in Vatican II for a couple years, and was also on a committee helping to formulate Humanae Vitae. I think the duties assigned to him by Rome went a little deeper than this, but I’m too lazy to look it up at the moment. He was, however, nowhere near the insider that Benedict was before his papacy.

I am unsure of the commission for Humanae Vitae, but all the Bishops (including the Eastern Bishops) had the opportunity to participate in the Second Vatican Council.

Regardless, as you mentioned, the late Pontiff’s pre-pontifical involvement with the Roman Curia pales in comparison to the current Pontiff’s.

 

[Pius_Joung]

Well, that’s like asking ‘can a Jesuit become a pope?’ - short answer is yes. Long answer is given by my colleagues.

 

[PietroPaolo]

Peter was “an Eastern Catholic,” so I guess the answer must be yes.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

At the time of Pius XII death, there was a very capable cardinal in the Eastern Church that some of us were rooting for.

 

[Thomas48]

I remember seeing some very ignorant news agencies in the U.S post the photo of the Late H.E Maran Mar Varkey Vithayathil (Syro Malabar Major Archbishop) for possible papal candidates in 2013, even though he had died in 2011. I think they were just trying to add an Indian among the photos to show how multicultural the candidates are, though it was quite a fail on their part .