Can an Eastern-rite Bishop be elected Pope? Is it ever likely?

[malphono]

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.

Let’s up that to 1000:1 and then I might agree. For me, the more remote the possibility the better, but that’s another story.

 

[Peter_J]

Let’s up that to 1000:1 and then I might agree. For me, the more remote the possibility the better, but that’s another story.

So noted. (That may well be what MorEphrem had in mind too, but I’ll await his response.) But personally, I’m still inclined to think it’s more like 50:1 … i.e. more-or-less proportionate to the number of faithful.

 

[VanSensei]

Of course. I think one of the participants in this year’s conclave was of the Indian Catholic Churches.

I think an Eastern rite Pope would be good for returning bringing the Orthodox out of schism.

 

[malphono]

Of course. I think one of the participants in this year’s conclave was of the Indian Catholic Churches.

There were, I believe, a total of 4 eligible to vote: The Coptic Patriarch-Emeritus, the Maronite Patriarch, the Syro-Malankara Catholicos, and the Syro-Malabar Major-Archbishop. The last two, of course, are both from Kerala.

 

[Peter_J]

I think an Eastern rite Pope would be good for returning bringing the Orthodox out of schism.

Um … okay.

:ehh:

 

[Aramis]

Um … okay.

:ehh:

Especially if he was already the Orthodox Patriarch of Byzantium…

In all seriousness, I think that the only way real corporate union will happen is if the conclave decides to elect an Orthodox patriarch as pope… but then expect immediate changes to the Roman Rite.

 

[MorEphrem]

So noted. (That may well be what MorEphrem had in mind too, but I’ll await his response.) But personally, I’m still inclined to think it’s more like 50:1 … i.e. more-or-less proportionate to the number of faithful.

You assume I’m much less of a skeptic by assuming I meant simple unbiased probability even if the ECCs comprised 2% of the Catholic Church I think there’s a much smaller chance one would be elected pope simply based on the fact that they’re Eastern.

And I can just imagine the headlines “first non-Catholic pope elected.” In all seriousness, I will once again point to the fact that Italy alone has more than like 20% of the Cardinals. It is in no means proportionate to the number of faithful. But as malphono said I’m not particularly interested in seeing an Eastern Catholic pope.

 

[ronyodish]

I actually would love an Eastern Catholic elected as Pope. If I was a Cardinal and could vote, I’d vote for Bishop Mar Bawai Soro.

God bless,

Rony

 

[Peter_J]

You assume I’m much less of a skeptic by assuming I meant simple unbiased probability even if the ECCs comprised 2% of the Catholic Church I think there’s a much smaller chance one would be elected pope simply based on the fact that they’re Eastern.

And I can just imagine the headlines “first non-Catholic pope elected.” In all seriousness, I will once again point to the fact that Italy alone has more than like 20% of the Cardinals. It is in no means proportionate to the number of faithful. But as malphono said I’m not particularly interested in seeing an Eastern Catholic pope.

Personally I don’t have a strong opinion about it being likely or unlikely; but my impression of past conversations is that some people will speak of it being “extremely unlikely” which turns out to mean, to them, something like 50:1. So I guess now I tend to ask for elaboration whenever someone says that.

P.S. This kind of reminds me of another matter … I used to complain about the lack of Greek-Catholic representation in Catholic-Orthodox dialogues … then later I learned that Greek-Catholic representation in Catholic-Orthodox dialogues is actually proportionately high.

 

[Peter_J]

If I was a Cardinal and could vote, I’d vote for Bishop Mar Bawai Soro.

And an ex-Catholic might become the next Patriarch of Constantinople.

 

[John_Lazarus]

Let’s up that to 1000:1 and then I might agree. For me, the more remote the possibility the better, but that’s another story.

May one ask why?

 

[BenedictMary1]

If God wants an Eastern Catholic pope then we will have an Eastern Catholic pope

But yes I believe its rare. Even if he is Eastern Catholic I do believe he will have to practice the Latin rite.

 

[Amadeus]

The special law that governs the election of the Pope is the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, as amended, with the CIC and the CCEO as general (reference) laws.

If one reads closely the provisions of these three laws, especially the UDG, one will discover that the conclave cardinals are “directed” to elect from among themselves!

Accordingly, the cardinal electors (under 80) may elect the Pope from among the current members of the Sacred College of Cardinals only, be the electee over 80, or just a priest (the previous Pope having granted dispensation from being ordained a bishop after elevation to the cardinalate), or an Eastern Catholic cardinal.

Of course, if a priest is elected by the conclave cardinals and he freely accepts his election, then he must be ordained a bishop forthwith for him to become Pope.

 

[aemcpa]

The special law that governs the election of the Pope is the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, as amended, with the CIC and the CCEO as general (reference) laws.

If one reads closely the provisions of these three laws, especially the UDG, one will discover that the conclave cardinals are “directed” to elect from among themselves!

Accordingly, the cardinal electors (under 80) may elect the Pope from among the current members of the Sacred College of Cardinals only, be the electee over 80, or just a priest (the previous Pope having granted dispensation from being ordained a bishop after elevation to the cardinalate), or an Eastern Catholic cardinal.

Of course, if a priest is elected by the conclave cardinals and he freely accepts his election, then he must be ordained a bishop forthwith for him to become Pope.

False.
Bl. John Paul II:

UDG 83. With the same insistence shown by my Predecessors, I earnestly exhort the Cardinal electors not to allow themselves to be guided, in choosing the Pope, by friendship or aversion, or to be influenced by favour or personal relationships towards anyone, or to be constrained by the interference of persons in authority or by pressure groups, by the suggestions of the mass media, or by force, fear or the pursuit of popularity. Rather, having before their eyes solely the glory of God and the good of the Church, and having prayed for divine assistance, they shall give their vote to the person, even outside the College of Cardinals, who in their judgment is most suited to govern the universal Church in a fruitful and beneficial way.

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

 

[Amadeus]

Dear aemcpa:

UDG 83 and UDG 90 do not preclude my observation that under one of the UDG provisions the conclave cardinals are “directed,” perhaps more appropriately “guided,” to elect the next Pope from among themselves, nothwithstanding the fact that an eventuality may arise where they are “forced” to elect someone outside the Sacred College.

Please read carefully UDG 53.

It is farfetched but my observation might have some weight.

 

[SyroMalankara]

1. In conformity with the provisions of No. 52, the Cardinal Dean or the Cardinal who has precedence by order and seniority, will read aloud the following formula of the oath:

We, the Cardinal electors present in this election of the Supreme Pontiff promise, pledge and swear, as individuals and as a group, to observe faithfully and scrupulously the prescriptions contained in the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, published on 22 February 1996. We likewise promise, pledge and swear that whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church and will not fail to affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See. In a particular way, we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election, directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any way, either during or after the election of the new Pontiff, unless explicit authorization is granted by the same Pontiff; and never to lend support or favour to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention, whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman Pontiff.

Each of the Cardinal electors, according to the order of precedence, will then take the oath according to the following formula:

And I, N. Cardinal N., do so promise, pledge and swear. Placing his hand on the Gospels, he will add: So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.

The section insures that the electors, if one is chosen from among them, adheres to the aforesaid oath. However, It does not preclude one from outside from being elected.

 

[aemcpa]

Dear aemcpa:

UDG 83 and UDG 90 do not preclude my observation that under one of the UDG provisions the conclave cardinals are “directed,” perhaps more appropriately “guided,” to elect the next Pope from among themselves, nothwithstanding the fact that an eventuality may arise where they are “forced” to elect someone outside the Sacred College.

Please read carefully UDG 53.

It is farfetched but my observation might have some weight.

I have read the entire document multiple times. You’re inferring from the wording of the oath that the Cardinals are constrained to vote for one among themselves. They are not. The plain fact is that any man may be elected, Cardinal or not.

 

[Lela_Loxx]

According to this Russian Orthodox website, Benedict XVI had this in mind, just in case:

pro-tridentina-malta.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-orthodox-church-and-summorum.html

It is a strange perspective but with hindsight it surely serves to ensure that the Orthodox rejoin us Catholics. Which also explains why Francis the Great refuses the title of Pope. In this way, unity is a matter of time.

 

[Amadeus]

I have read the entire document multiple times. You’re inferring from the wording of the oath that the Cardinals are constrained to vote for one among themselves. They are not. The plain fact is that any man may be elected, Cardinal or not.

Now, I did not say the conclave Cardinals are “constrained” to elect the next Pope from among themselves.

Not any man can be elected as Pope for the reasons clearly stated under UDG Chapter VII. The immediacy of ordination as a bishop, if the electee is not yet a bishop, requires that the electee must at least be a priest and unmarried. This precludes all married Catholic males (including Eastern Catholic priests who are currently married).

 

[aemcpa]

Now, I did not say the conclave Cardinals are “constrained” to elect the next Pope from among themselves.

Not any man can be elected as Pope for the reasons clearly stated under UDG Chapter VII. The immediacy of ordination as a bishop, if the electee is not yet a bishop, requires that the electee must at least be a priest and unmarried. This precludes all married Catholic males (including Eastern Catholic priests who are currently married).

It requires no such thing and precludes no such thing.