Question on Non-Bishops being elected Pope

[AlanF]

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, but sometimes people who aren’'t bishops have been elected Pope. So here’s my question:

If a conclave elected someone who’s not a bishop as Pope, are they Pope from the moment of their election or from their consecration as bishop.

My rather uneducated opinion tells me the Pope must be a bishop, so they would be Pope from their consecration.

 

[ConallCernach]

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, but sometimes people who aren’'t bishops have been elected Pope. So here’s my question:

If a conclave elected someone who’s not a bishop as Pope, are they Pope from the moment of their election or from their consecration as bishop.

My rather uneducated opinion tells me the Pope must be a bishop, so they would be Pope from their consecration.

The Pope is the bishop of Rome. Pope is just another title for the Bishop of Rome.

Pax

 

[AlanF]

The Pope is the bishop of Rome. Pope is just another title for the Bishop of Rome.

Pax

You’re ignoring the Avignon Papacy (not the Great Schism one) and when Pope St. Peter was Bishop of Antioch.

In the past popes have been elected who weren’t bishops - Pope Gregory XVI is the most recent example - and they would immediately be consecrated bishops. Taking Gregory XVI as an example, I’m asking was he pope from the moment of his election or from his episcopal ordination. Are you saying it was from his ordination?

I would quite like evidence from Church teaching too if someone knows of any.

 

[ConallCernach]

You’re ignoring the Avignon Papacy (not the Great Schism one) and when Pope St. Peter was Bishop of Antioch.

In the past popes have been elected who weren’t bishops - Pope Gregory XVI is the most recent example - and they would immediately be consecrated bishops. Taking Gregory XVI as an example, I’m asking was he pope from the moment of his election or from his episcopal ordination. Are you saying it was from his ordination?

I would quite like evidence from Church teaching too if someone knows of any.

As far as my understanding goes, despite the Papacy being in Avignon, they were still considered to be the “Bishop of Rome”. If they are not a bishop prior to becoming the Pope, becoming the Bishop of Rome makes the a bishop.

Pax

 

[AlanF]

As far as my understanding goes, despite the Papacy being in Avignon, they were still considered to be the “Bishop of Rome”. If they are not a bishop prior to becoming the Pope, becoming the Bishop of Rome makes the a bishop.

Pax

??

Don’t you mean being consecrated a bishop makes them Bishop of Rome (after having been elected Pope)?

Popes are popes from the moment they accept the papacy in the conclave and have the Fishermans Ring put on them, but if they weren’t yet ordained a bishop (like Gregory XVI wasn’t) are they Pope from that moment or from the moment they are ordained a bishop?

 

[DavidFilmer]

If they are not a bishop prior to becoming the Pope, becoming the Bishop of Rome makes the a bishop.

You cannot become “Bishop of Rome” unless you are first a Bishop. If a non-Bishop is elected Pope and accepts the Office, the election does not take effect until this person is Ordained as a Bishop.

 

[mardukm]

I believe the correct answer is that he would be Pope the moment he ACCEPTS the nomination. IHowever, he cannot exercise his prerogatives until he is consecrated as bishop.

Blessings

 

[diggerdomer]

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, but sometimes people who aren’'t bishops have been elected Pope. So here’s my question:

If a conclave elected someone who’s not a bishop as Pope, are they Pope from the moment of their election or from their consecration as bishop.

My rather uneducated opinion tells me the Pope must be a bishop, so they would be Pope from their consecration.

Canon 332: The Roman Pontiff obtains full and supreme power in the Church by his acceptance of legitimate election together with episcopal consecration…If the person elected lacks episcopal character, however, he is to be ordained a bishop immediately.