R
Rocks_91
Guest
What the title says. 
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O
oneGODoneCHURCH
Guest
NO.What the title says.
P
philial
Guest
As far as i know the pope has to be elected by the college of cardinals, which convenes upon the death of the most recent pope. Since the pope is dead, he cannot take part in the election of his successor (well, not in normal human experience he can’t!).
However, it is possible for the pope to leave a legacy of a ‘front-runner’, as it were. Our present pope is such an example - he worked very closely for many years with JP2. But a man might be chosen as a ‘short term’, ‘safe pair of hands’ successor when no one in particular excites the convened cardinals. certain comentators have suggested this is the case with Benedict 15th, God guide and strengthen him.
However, it is possible for the pope to leave a legacy of a ‘front-runner’, as it were. Our present pope is such an example - he worked very closely for many years with JP2. But a man might be chosen as a ‘short term’, ‘safe pair of hands’ successor when no one in particular excites the convened cardinals. certain comentators have suggested this is the case with Benedict 15th, God guide and strengthen him.
J
JRKH
Guest
I agree with Philial.
The Pope is selected by the College of Cardinals. The current Pope can certainly make known his wishes and also by his appointments of Cardinals somewhat influence the election indirectly, but No - he cannot appoint (elect) a successor.
Peace
James
The Pope is selected by the College of Cardinals. The current Pope can certainly make known his wishes and also by his appointments of Cardinals somewhat influence the election indirectly, but No - he cannot appoint (elect) a successor.
Peace
James
J
Jerry-Jet
Guest
One Pope retired. Could a pope retire–be made a cardinal by a suceeding pope–and after that pope be one of the cardinals that would choose the next pope?
Y
YoungTradCath
Guest
Why not? Very unlikely, but certainly possible.
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Tinkinen
Guest
In principle, yes. However, you have a false assumption here that there could be multiple popes at the same time. Only the reigning pope is pope. The retired ones are not. They are just like any retired bishops and cannot make ex cathedra declarations, for example.
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Tinkinen
Guest
The papal conclave is ecclesiastical law and could be replaced by another process. It has not in fact always been in place and its rules have been changed several times. I wonder if the question of a pope mandating his successor has ever come up in practice and how canon lawyers have resolved it. I think a papal order of this kind would not be binding after the pope’s death, so it would be impossible do this in a legally binding way.
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Hesychios
Guest
This is an interesting question.
Some are of the opinion that Saint Peter named Saint Linus as bishop of Rome. If he did not do so, then who did? It is possible that Saint Linus was something like a coadjutor with right of succession (which would make him ‘chosen’ in advance), or of course a synod of the priests and laity of Rome could have selected him, but someone would have had to consecrate him as a bishop somewhere (if we read modern practice back into the first decades). There is no record.
Anyway, Pope Benedict IX was certainly of the opinion that he could name his own successor.
Some are of the opinion that Saint Peter named Saint Linus as bishop of Rome. If he did not do so, then who did? It is possible that Saint Linus was something like a coadjutor with right of succession (which would make him ‘chosen’ in advance), or of course a synod of the priests and laity of Rome could have selected him, but someone would have had to consecrate him as a bishop somewhere (if we read modern practice back into the first decades). There is no record.
Anyway, Pope Benedict IX was certainly of the opinion that he could name his own successor.
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