Correct. However, given the practical near-impossibility of the modern conclave electing someone not already in the room, it should be mentioned that there are several Eastern Catholic patriarchs who are voting members of the College of Cardinals, and they certainly have a realistic chance of being elected.Any baptized male can become pope; even a member of the laity.
Forgive my unquenchable skepticism but do you think it’s likely that any non-Western-ish European would be elected Pope? It hasn’t happened since about the 9th century (and no, Pope Francis doesn’t count; he’s ethnically and culturally Italian). Just look at the disproportionate assignment of cardinals to population ratio in Europe (which HH Pope Benedict XVI, I’m sure, had many a remark made against him for undermining said status quo).Correct. However, given the practical near-impossibility of the modern conclave electing someone not already in the room, it should be mentioned that there are several Eastern Catholic patriarchs who are voting members of the College of Cardinals, and they certainly have a realistic chance of being elected.
If an Eastern Catholic bishop is made a Patriarch, does that automatically elevate him to the cardinalate?Correct. However, given the practical near-impossibility of the modern conclave electing someone not already in the room, it should be mentioned that there are several Eastern Catholic patriarchs who are voting members of the College of Cardinals, and they certainly have a realistic chance of being elected.
No. There is nothing that automatically elevates one to the cardinalate. It is bestowed at the Pope’s sole discretion.If an Eastern Catholic bishop is made a Patriarch, does that automatically elevate him to the cardinalate?
Oh thats right. Do you even have to be clergy to be elevated?No. There is nothing that automatically elevates one to the cardinalate. It is bestowed at the Pope’s sole discretion.
The Pope may be of Italian blood, but he is most certainly ethnically and culturally Latino.Forgive my unquenchable skepticism but do you think it’s likely that any non-Western-ish European would be elected Pope? It hasn’t happened since about the 9th century (and no, Pope Francis doesn’t count; he’s ethnically and culturally Italian). Just look at the disproportionate assignment of cardinals to population ratio in Europe (which HH Pope Benedict XVI, I’m sure, had many a remark made against him for undermining said status quo).
In short, an Eastern Catholic Pope is extremely unlikely; there have been many stories of certain Patriarchs being “close” to being legitimate candidates but they should be left at that: stories.
Canon law says that one must be a bishop, or if only a priest must be immediately ordained bishop. But the Pope is the lawgiver and can amend canon law by fiat, so if he wanted to restore the former practice of lay cardinals, he could do so tomorrow.Oh thats right. Do you even have to be clergy to be elevated?
Okay, when did lay cardinals fall out of practice again?Canon law says that one must be a bishop, or if only a priest must be immediately ordained bishop. But the Pope is the lawgiver and can amend canon law by fiat, so if he wanted to restore the former practice of lay cardinals, he could do so tomorrow.
The last one was created by Pius IX in 1858; the practice was formally outlawed in the 1917 Code of Canon Law.Okay, when did lay cardinals fall out of practice again?
Current Special Law requires the candidates to be clergy and cardinals. (Keeping in mind that laymen have been cardinals in the past. I don’t know that any are presently.)Any baptized male can become pope; even a member of the laity.
Current law requires the ELECTORS to be Cardinals. There is no current law requiring that the Cardinal-electors choose the Pope from among their own number. In fact, current law makes provision for the possibility that the Pope-elect is not within the walls of the Conclave.Current Special Law requires the candidates to be clergy and cardinals. (Keeping in mind that laymen have been cardinals in the past. I don’t know that any are presently.)
The special law hasn’t been changed since Pope Benedict’s change to the majority requirement, and that’s the only change he made. The CIC requires only that electors all must each be both clerics & cardinals.Current law requires the ELECTORS to be Cardinals. There is no current law requiring that the Cardinal-electors choose the Pope from among their own number. In fact, current law makes provision for the possibility that the Pope-elect is not within the walls of the Conclave.
And yet that special law makes provision for the possibility that the person elected must be summoned from outside the Vatican.The special law hasn’t been changed since Pope Benedict’s change to the majority requirement, and that’s the only change he made. The CIC requires only that electors all must each be both clerics & cardinals.
Current special law, which is separate from the CIC, restricts the conclave to electing from within the cardinalate. Or so said “Inside the Vatican”.
Actually, not all of the Cardinals are required to attend; any over age 75 are excused.And yet that special law makes provision for the possibility that the person elected must be summoned from outside the Vatican.
It’s 80, not 75.Actually, not all of the Cardinals are required to attend; any over age 75 are excused.
The provisions to call are in the CIC; but they also apply to other canonical elections.
It’s not unlike how Alaska specifies in law a manner of execution, but has no death penalty crimes…
That really depends how you mean. Eastern Catholics (including Byzantine Catholics, Maronite Catholics, etc) comprise less than 2% of Catholicism. If by “extremely unlikely” you mean in the ballpark of 50:1 odds, than I agree.Forgive my unquenchable skepticism but do you think it’s likely that any non-Western-ish European would be elected Pope? It hasn’t happened since about the 9th century (and no, Pope Francis doesn’t count; he’s ethnically and culturally Italian). Just look at the disproportionate assignment of cardinals to population ratio in Europe (which HH Pope Benedict XVI, I’m sure, had many a remark made against him for undermining said status quo).
In short, an Eastern Catholic Pope is extremely unlikely;