Dear truthbetold:
What is the timeline / lineage for the Popes who followed Peter?
The on-line Catholic Encyclopedia has a regnal chronology of the Popes, starting with St. Peter, including anti-Popes.
How is a new pope selected?
As Dr. Colossus has indicated, the election of the next Pope is governed by a special law: *Universi Dominici Gregis * , the Apostolic Constitution issued by Pope John Paul II in 1996, abrogating, amending, or otherwise modifying all existing Church laws on the matter.
Salient features are: election only by secret ballot (no more acclamation nor compromise); only members of the Sacred College of Cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote and be voted upon, but Cardinals 80 and over are, although remotely to be elected, eligible for election.
The election of the Pope is more popularly known as the
conclave.
Btw, under the aforecited AC and under the Code of Canons, the Cardinals in conclave elect the “Roman Pontiff” and not a “Bishop of Rome” nor a “Pope.” As such Roman Pontiff, he becomes *ipso facto * the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the universal Church. The title “Pope” is our term of endearment for him as our “Papa,” our “Father.”
Is a pope in office until he dies?
Yes, he is the Pope until he dies, unless he, on his own volition, resigns his office, in which case he ceases to be Pope even while living.
Based on our Code of Canons, no person, natural or juridical, can depose a reigning Pope
**Who lays hands on the Pope to “commission him”? or does that not need to be done? **
God, the Holy Spirit!
Jesus, God the Son, “laid” His hands on Peter, remember?
Levity aside, there is no such “laying of hand(s)” on the Roman Pontiff to enable him to exercise his Office.
The AC thus provides:
- When the election has canonically taken place, the junior Cardinal Deacon summons into the hall of election the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. The Cardinal Dean, or the Cardinal who is first in order and seniority, in the name of the whole College of electors, then asks the consent of the one elected in the following words: Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff? And, as soon as he has received the consent, he asks him: By what name do you wish to be called? Then the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, acting as notary and having as witnesses two Masters of Ceremonies, who are to be summoned at that moment, draws up a document certifying acceptance by the new Pope and the name taken by him.
- After his acceptance, the person elected, if he has already received episcopal ordination, is immediately Bishop of the Church of Rome, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops. He thus acquires and can exercise full and supreme power over the universal Church.
If the person elected is not already a Bishop, he shall immediately be ordained Bishop [by the Dean of the Sacred College or, in his absence, the Vice Dean, or the most senior Cardinal present]
Will they wait until after JPII dies until they start to figure out who is next in line?
Please see above.
Viva il Papa!
