Minimum for Catholic Church to survive?

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Sir_Knight

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Christ promised us that His Church would exist for “all generations” and that the “gates of death” would not overcome it.

In the event of world wide catastrophe (global war, natural disasters, etc.), what would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue? Just a Bishop since he can ordain other priests? A cardinal? Since a Pope is elected from cardinals? A fixed number of cardinals? What would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
 
Sir_Knight said:
Christ promised us that His Church would exist for “all generations” and that the “gates of death” would not overcome it.

In the event of world wide catastrophe (global war, natural disasters, etc.), what would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue? Just a Bishop since he can ordain other priests? A cardinal? Since a Pope is elected from cardinals? A fixed number of cardinals? What would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
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I imagine the answer would be at least one. Christ kicked the whole thing off, ordaining the first set.

As for the pope, I don’t think the pope was always selected from cardinals. There had to be a way to pass on the primacy of Peter before the college of cardinals came to be.
 
It is the norm for 3 Bishops to consecrate other Bishops…if you use less than that, it doesn’t make it invalid…just illicit. Some countries don’t have the 3 Bishop standard, because of oppression…such as in communist regimes…therefore, I would say only 1 Bishop theoretically…because of the issue of Apostolic Succession…as long as that line is not broken, The Church will exist.
 
Maybe this is a bit off-topic but can you explain the difference between invalid and illicit?
 
Sir_Knight said:
Maybe this is a bit off-topic but can you explain the difference between invalid and illicit?
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Invalid means that it is not a sacrament, it is not valid.

Illicit means that it goes against the discipline (or laws) of the Church but it is valid.
 
Sir_Knight said:
Christ promised us that His Church would exist for “all generations” and that the “gates of death” would not overcome it.

In the event of world wide catastrophe (global war, natural disasters, etc.), what would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue? Just a Bishop since he can ordain other priests? A cardinal? Since a Pope is elected from cardinals? A fixed number of cardinals? What would be the minimum requirement for the Catholic Church to continue?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
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A validly Ordained Bishop.
 
michaeldaniels said:
It is the norm for 3 Bishops to consecrate other Bishops…if you use less than that, it doesn’t make it invalid…just illicit. Some countries don’t have the 3 Bishop standard, because of oppression…such as in communist regimes…therefore, I would say only 1 Bishop theoretically…because of the issue of Apostolic Succession…as long as that line is not broken, The Church will exist.
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Solo consecrations are NOT unheard of in Church history.

There are even rubrics in the pre-V2 rite for what to do should a solo consecration be necessary.
 
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