What age must a person be to become a Pope?

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I ask this in question to the recent media tripe about the Pope being too old and out of touch with the modern world.

What is the required age of a person to be elected as Pope?

Is the whole question one of just more anti-catholic and modernist babble?

What do you think the repercussions of having a less experienced, more “hip” Pope would be for the future of the Church?
 
Tartini said:
I ask this in question to the recent media tripe about the Pope being too old and out of touch with the modern world.

What is the required age of a person to be elected as Pope?

Is the whole question one of just more anti-catholic and modernist babble?

What do you think the repercussions of having a less experienced, more “hip” Pope would be for the future of the Church?
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I can’t think of anything worse than a hip pope…I hope I never live to endure one…I am glad they are not young, much wisdom comes with living
 
Tartini said:
I ask this in question to the recent media tripe about the Pope being too old and out of touch with the modern world.

What is the required age of a person to be elected as Pope?

Is the whole question one of just more anti-catholic and modernist babble?

What do you think the repercussions of having a less experienced, more “hip” Pope would be for the future of the Church?
Click to expand...
I don’t really think there is an age limit. Historically, there were a couple of teenage Popes who were elected. And remember, a young person is not necessarily going to be more ‘hip’, they might be more idealistic and black-and-white as it were in their faith.
 
Many poor journalists take that approach when they can’t find any hard data with which to criticize the pope. They step down to reporting opinions instead of facts relevant to the matter.

Notice how headlines report negatively on the Pope’s comments about the ineffectiveness of condoms in reducing AIDS in Africa, while very few articles even mention the fact that Uganda–the African country with the strongest abstinence education program–is the only African country to show significant reductions in the spread of AIDS!

I do not care how old the Pope is or if he is trendy. He speaks the truth bravely, is apologetic about his errors, seeks unity around Goodness–and that makes him cool in my book.👍

Pax!
 
redrosetea said:
I can’t think of anything worse than a hip pope…I hope I never live to endure one…I am glad they are not young, much wisdom comes with living
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I agree 100%. If I want to know the hottest trends for indie bands among the 16-21, female, demographic in New Jersey, the Pope would not be my choice of source. If I need help with a complex, transact SQL select statement, I probably would not phone the Holy Father. If however, I wanted the wisdom of the Church, combined with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, on matters of faith and morals, I cannot think of a better person to give it.

Know your question. Know your source.

Paul
 
Tartini said:
I ask this in question to the recent media tripe about the Pope being too old and out of touch with the modern world.

What is the required age of a person to be elected as Pope?

Is the whole question one of just more anti-catholic and modernist babble?

What do you think the repercussions of having a less experienced, more “hip” Pope would be for the future of the Church?
Click to expand...
Canon law restricts ordination to the Episcopate to men aged 35 and up…
Can. 378 §1. In regard to the suitability of a candidate for the episcopacy, it is required that he is:

1/ outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence, and human virtues, and endowed with other qualities which make him suitable to fulfill the office in question;

2/ of good reputation;

3/ at least thirty-Five years old;

4/ ordained to the presbyterate for at least Five years;

5/ in possession of a doctorate or at least a licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law from an institute of higher studies approved by the Apostolic See, or at least truly expert in the same disciplines.

§2. The definitive judgment concerning the suitability of the one to be promoted pertains to the Apostolic See.

When the Apostolic See is vacant, canon law remains in force, but the definitive judgment (and the ability to waive any of the requirements) is absent, so they must be taken at face value.
 
Aramis said:
Canon law restricts ordination to the Episcopate to men aged 35 and up…
Can. 378 §1. In regard to the suitability of a candidate for the episcopacy, it is required that he is:

1/ outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence, and human virtues, and endowed with other qualities which make him suitable to fulfill the office in question;

2/ of good reputation;

3/ at least thirty-Five years old;

4/ ordained to the presbyterate for at least Five years;

5/ in possession of a doctorate or at least a licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law from an institute of higher studies approved by the Apostolic See, or at least truly expert in the same disciplines.

§2. The definitive judgment concerning the suitability of the one to be promoted pertains to the Apostolic See.

When the Apostolic See is vacant, canon law remains in force, but the definitive judgment (and the ability to waive any of the requirements) is absent, so they must be taken at face value.
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One does not have to be a Bishop in order to be elected Pope. Were a non-Bishop elected Pope, I honestly don’t know how that canon would (could) be applied, as any non-Bishop elected Pope is to be ordained a bishop “immediately.” Interesting.
 
And there is an upper age limit. Since normal tradition is to elect a cardinal as pope, I think a cardinal has to be younger than 75 or 80 (one of those two).
 
LRThunder said:
And there is an upper age limit. Since normal tradition is to elect a cardinal as pope, I think a cardinal has to be younger than 75 or 80 (one of those two).
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The “age limit” for Cardinals is 80, but that (a) is an arbitrary matter of current discipline (dating from Paul VI in the 1970s) and (b) applies only to voting in conclave. It has no bearing on the age of the person elected.
 
malphono said:
The “age limit” for Cardinals is 80, but that (a) is an arbitrary matter of current discipline (dating from Paul VI in the 1970s) and (b) applies only to voting in conclave. It has no bearing on the age of the person elected.
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No legal bearing, but since the current tradition (little t) is to vote for a cardinal who participates in the conclave, then the age limit does have some bearing.
 
Cardinals over 80 are not barred from participation, merely from voting.

Given that they can not exempt one from nor change canon law during the interregnum, it is extremely unlikely they would chose a man who was not already a priest, over 35, and had more than 5 years as a priest and a doctorate in Theology or Canon Law.
 
Aramis said:
Cardinals over 80 are not barred from participation, merely from voting.

Given that they can not exempt one from nor change canon law during the interregnum, it is extremely unlikely they would chose a man who was not already a priest, over 35, and had more than 5 years as a priest and a doctorate in Theology or Canon Law.
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thank goodness God is not bound by what’s unlikely.
 
What difference did it make for John Paul II? He was a very active 58 when elected, a former actor and poet, a skier, he started World Youth Day and knew how to work a crowd. Yet the media asked the same questions, questioned his papacy, particularly in later years, and waited for his departure for nearly ten years. I am convinced that the media will do this no matter who is elected.
 
Pope John XII was 18. Pope Benedict IX was 19.

Adrian I was the oldest–he was elected at age 81.

Pope Celestine V–Pope Clement V–Pope Gregory X–Pope Urban IV–Pope Urban V–and Pope Urban VI were all non cardinals when elected pope.
 
Jerry-Jet said:
Pope John XII was 18. Pope Benedict IX was 19.

Adrian I was the oldest–he was elected at age 81.

Pope Celestine V–Pope Clement V–Pope Gregory X–Pope Urban IV–Pope Urban V–and Pope Urban VI were all non cardinals when elected pope.
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Other non-Cardinals would probably include Peter, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, and quite few more.:rolleyes:😃
 
Stan “The Man” Musial wasn’t elected pope and he was the greatest cardinal of all times!
 
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