Election of Popes in the Dark Ages

[Layp3rs0n]

It is a fact that certain Popes in early Church history were elected by mobs, and on occasional the Papal Throne was acquired by bartering or bribes. My faith is not shaken, but by what mode are these elections liccit? If I buy my way onto the See of Peter, or secular empror appoints me as such, by what process do I become pope? Just curious.

 

[Theophorus]

Election by acclamation, or as you say “by mobs” is an ancient and recognised method of electing the Bishop, including the Bishop of Rome. It is a recognition of the Holy Spirit working through the well formed lay faithful.

The other point which you make is indeed more troubling and unfortunatly on occasion the Chair of Peter has been bought and sold. This however does not change the office created by Christ and while a man may be pope the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church from any erronous changes in doctrine(none of the bad popes altered Dogma which I take as a sign of the protection of the office by God through His spirit) he may want to enact. The gates of hell will not prevail.

 

[fabricdragon]

one of the things that actually made my final decision about joining the Catholic church i did) was reading about a Pope who was …a very ILLICIT election.
i mean bad.

i am having to do this from memory so pls forgive any times/dates/names i get wrong.

The seated Pope told a queen that he could not and would not favor her pet doctrine. it was wrong
she started cozying up to some bishops and cardinals and one of them was all “oh yes, i see… you are so right!” and was in oposition to the Pope with her on it.

she had the Pope murdered, and helped bribe people to get her favorite put in his place.

remember… this guy was aware she had the old Pope killed, and was elected on HER bribes…and backed her doctrine…

and after he was established as Pope…
he told her he COULD NOT back her Doctrine as Pope.
he refused

she had him killed by all accounts, in any event he died not long after…

WHY would he do that? he was a bad bad man, willing to conspire to murder the Pope… and he had agreed to get the Pope’s chair to back HER doctrine ideas?
so why?

BECAUSE God will not permit the Bishop of Rome to lead the flock into error.
no matter HOW bad the Pope may be in his personal life… how sinful… how “illicit” his position… God will not let Hell prevail.

doesnt mean the Pope is PERSONALLY right, or even nice (that guy wasnt) but that “EX Cathedra” teachings will be protected.

 

[LegoGE1947]

one of the things that actually made my final decision about joining the Catholic church i did) was reading about a Pope who was …a very ILLICIT election.
i mean bad.

i am having to do this from memory so pls forgive any times/dates/names i get wrong.

The seated Pope told a queen that he could not and would not favor her pet doctrine. it was wrong
she started cozying up to some bishops and cardinals and one of them was all “oh yes, i see… you are so right!” and was in oposition to the Pope with her on it.

she had the Pope murdered, and helped bribe people to get her favorite put in his place.

remember… this guy was aware she had the old Pope killed, and was elected on HER bribes…and backed her doctrine…

and after he was established as Pope…
he told her he COULD NOT back her Doctrine as Pope.
he refused

she had him killed by all accounts, in any event he died not long after…

WHY would he do that? he was a bad bad man, willing to conspire to murder the Pope… and he had agreed to get the Pope’s chair to back HER doctrine ideas?
so why?

BECAUSE God will not permit the Bishop of Rome to lead the flock into error.
no matter HOW bad the Pope may be in his personal life… how sinful… how “illicit” his position… God will not let Hell prevail.

doesnt mean the Pope is PERSONALLY right, or even nice (that guy wasnt) but that “EX Cathedra” teachings will be protected.

The title of this thread is a bit strange. I have heard that we are right this moment living in “The dark ages!”