What if: the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy?

[StMarina303ad]

If the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy personally would that automatically make all Catholics Orthodox Christians?

Or would the Roman Cardinals simply elect another Pope?

Or would the Pope use his “Papal Infallibility” to make the changes in the Roman Catholic Church necessary for the entire Roman Catholic Church to become in union once again with Orthodoxy - even though he no longer believed in Papal Infallibility himself and was using that false doctrine to eradicate it?

Because this is hypathetical, this post is just for fun as who knows what would really happen should this take place.

What inspired this as a thought for me is last Sunday I purchased a 3 DVD set from 2006 when the Pope of Rome visited the Ecumenical Patriarch - the Pope seemed very impressed with the Divine Liturgy even though he was forbidden from participating in it other than to say the Lord’s Prayer since he is not Orthodox.

 

[FollowTheWay]

I think that would be interesting, and because many Catholic feel his authority is above all they probably would follow him

 

[rad]

If the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy personally would that automatically make all Catholics Orthodox Christians?

Or would the Roman Cardinals simply elect another Pope?

Or would the Pope use his “Papal Infallibility” to make the changes in the Roman Catholic Church necessary for the entire Roman Catholic Church to become in union once again with Orthodoxy - even though he no longer believed in Papal Infallibility himself and was using that false doctrine to eradicate it?

Because this is hypathetical, this post is just for fun as who knows what would really happen should this take place.

What inspired this as a thought for me is last Sunday I purchased a 3 DVD set from 2006 when the Pope of Rome visited the Ecumenical Patriarch - the Pope seemed very impressed with the Divine Liturgy even though he was forbidden from participating in it other than to say the Lord’s Prayer since he is not Orthodox.

I allways thought he has to return to pre schism before the seperation icluding orthodox theology for unity…but stll keeping the western rite…

 

[Hesychios]

If the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy personally would that automatically make all Catholics Orthodox Christians?

Or would the Roman Cardinals simply elect another Pope?

Or would the Pope use his “Papal Infallibility” to make the changes in the Roman Catholic Church necessary for the entire Roman Catholic Church to become in union once again with Orthodoxy - even though he no longer believed in Papal Infallibility himself and was using that false doctrine to eradicate it?

Because this is hypathetical, this post is just for fun as who knows what would really happen should this take place.

What inspired this as a thought for me is last Sunday I purchased a 3 DVD set from 2006 when the Pope of Rome visited the Ecumenical Patriarch - the Pope seemed very impressed with the Divine Liturgy even though he was forbidden from participating in it other than to say the Lord’s Prayer since he is not Orthodox.

It is not Papal Infallibility, but Papal Universal Jurisdiction which gives a modern bishop of Rome so much control.

If he became Orthodox, he would know he did not have the authority that is claimed for a modern Pope. He would be unable to compel anyone to follow him in good conscience. But should he merely move in the direction of Orthodoxy without actually converting, he might use his authority to affect some meaningful changes in the church and remove some barriers to reconciliation.

Sometimes it does look like the modern Popes have been moving in the direction of Orthodoxy, baby steps to be sure.

This is why these Popes can give some Latin Catholics the fits, while at the same time some Eastern Catholics can be jumping for joy.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

If the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy personally would that automatically make all Catholics Orthodox Christians?

Or would the Roman Cardinals simply elect another Pope?

Or would the Pope use his “Papal Infallibility” to make the changes in the Roman Catholic Church necessary for the entire Roman Catholic Church to become in union once again with Orthodoxy - even though he no longer believed in Papal Infallibility himself and was using that false doctrine to eradicate it?

Because this is hypathetical, this post is just for fun as who knows what would really happen should this take place.

What inspired this as a thought for me is last Sunday I purchased a 3 DVD set from 2006 when the Pope of Rome visited the Ecumenical Patriarch - the Pope seemed very impressed with the Divine Liturgy even though he was forbidden from participating in it other than to say the Lord’s Prayer since he is not Orthodox.

Interesting question… It’s interesting that the men at the top don’t switch - very occasionally, a bishop may.​

The Cardinals would elect a successor.

 

[cathopologist]

Interesting question - I think that could be possible, but why when some of Orthodoxy’s strongholds have re-established communion with the Patriarch of the West?

Besides, the Church sui iuris (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches) guarantees prospective Orthodox Churches to preserve their patrimonial autonomous nature and rites if they choose to reunite with the Church in Rome.

Does Eastern Orthodoxy have anything remotely similar to offer the Latin Church?

I would be most interested in reading your opinions and comments.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

This will never happen. The pope is a Roman Catholic, nothing can convert him. Rome will be as it was from 2,000 years of Roman Catholic popes.

 

[FollowTheWay]

The Lord can convert him, but this religion is so powerfully used by satan.

cuz Rome had a fantastic idea indeed kill your popes all the way up until the rein of constantine, and technically the first person to found the church in Rome would be Paul.

 

[cfrancis]

The Lord can convert him, but this religion is so powerfully used by satan.

cuz Rome had a fantastic idea indeed kill your popes all the way up until the rein of constantine, and technically the first person to found the church in Rome would be Paul.

Poorly catechized and ignorant of history…a truly volatile mix.

 

[FollowTheWay]

my friend did you not know your history? you may want to look it up for in it you may find truth

 

[Hesychios]

Interesting question - I think that could be possible, but why when some of Orthodoxy’s strongholds have re-established communion with the Patriarch of the West?

None of them can be classed as examples of Orthodoxy’s strongholds.

Besides, the Church sui iuris (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches) guarantees prospective Orthodox Churches to preserve their patrimonial autonomous nature and rites if they choose to reunite with the Church in Rome.

The Pope giveth, and the Pope taketh away. There is nothing in the CCEO that is of a permanent nature, at any point a Pope may add, delete or modify any canon on his own authority. That goes for the Particular Law of each Sui Iuris church as well.

The canons for the Orthodox are actually the *same original *canons that were composed by the church hundreds of years ago, they still work fine, that is no longer possible for those under the authority of the bishop of Rome (about 7% of the Byzantine population) who have been compelled to give them up.

Canons of Orthodox - CCEO

Does Eastern Orthodoxy have anything remotely similar to offer the Latin Church?

Only what it had previously enjoyed by right: Complete autocephaly like any Orthodox church.

 

[ralphinal]

The Lord can convert him, but this religion is so powerfully used by satan.

cuz Rome had a fantastic idea indeed kill your popes all the way up until the rein of constantine, and technically the first person to found the church in Rome would be Paul.

Wow.

Let those who are anti-Catholic now cease to use the devil’s tools.

Please leave your calander, your music, your literature, your science, your BIBLE, your language, your art, and the entire history of Western Civilazation at the door as you become Muslim or Buddhist or some such.

It is one thing for your hatred of the Church to show in your lack of Church teachings. To allow it to alter history is downright bad.

Even the Klan is not so bold.

 

[adstrinity]

No.

This is such a horrible premise! This is like those stories about Martin Luther where he was kept in Papist ignorance and then one day opened the Bible and saw with his own eyes what it said.

The Pope would NEVER convert to Orthodoxy BECAUSE he has been formally learning about the faith ever since he was a deacon. He would know what he is getting into IF he accepts being a cardinal. If he’s made it as high up as a cardinal, and he’s elected Pope, chances are great that he knows the doctrine and the West’s views. He knows muchly of the other 22 rites and he knows what separates East and West. Somebody who prays the Rosary every day, who celebrates Mass every day, who says the Filioque at Mass every day is not going to up and decide one day that The Orthodox are correct; he would have had abundant information before this point in his life to make a decision.

Also, shouldn’t that read, “The Bishop of Rome”? The Pope is more than just Rome. The Pope is the Servant of the Servants of God.

AND, only a Latin Rite man can get elected Pope? The other Rites don’t have a say/vote in electing one of theirs in union with the rest of the Magisterium, should God the Spirit move them?

 

[tGette]

Wow.

Let those who are anti-Catholic now cease to use the devil’s tools.

Please leave your calander, your music, your literature, your science, your BIBLE, your language, your art, and the entire history of Western Civilazation at the door as you become Muslim or Buddhist or some such.

It is one thing for your hatred of the Church to show in your lack of Church teachings. To allow it to alter history is downright bad.

Even the Klan is not so bold.

Isn’t it interesting that since the Reformation the Church has slowly been chipped away at. First they get rid of the Pope. Then they get ride of this and that. Eventually all the Christian is left with is the Bible and their fallen mind to discern the Scriptures.

Then…comes in new influences who say that which religion is not important. It can be the Bible or the Qu’ran, as long one is believing in God. Then…God is taken out of the picture.

Is there anything left to get rid of? I guess we are even trying to get rid of man with all these abortions!

May the Good Lord Help us all!

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

The Lord can convert him, but this religion is so powerfully used by satan.

cuz Rome had a fantastic idea indeed kill your popes all the way up until the rein of constantine, and technically the first person to found the church in Rome would be Paul.

My friend, you are so poorly taught it isn’t funny. Read my signature and learn, it is exactly for you. Apparently you do not know your history of anything Catholic, nor the church, nor the faith. You cannot come here, a Catholic sight and insult the church that Christ founded. Your ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
Furthermore, there are many “Christians” out there who actually “worship” Paul and think that Pater was never in Rome. Far from the truth. Since I was in Rome, in the Catacombs where everything is thoroughly Catholic in belief, writings on the walls of St. Peter and Paul, you don’t know what you are saying.
Learn the church and then comment. If it weren’t for the Catholic church my friend, you wouldn’t even have a bible.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

my friend did you not know your history? you may want to look it up for in it you may find truth

And you must reap what you sow.

 

[cathopologist]

None of them can be classed as examples of Orthodoxy’s strongholds.

You mean the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was of no importance to the Patriarch of Constantinopole?

The Pope giveth, and the Pope taketh away. There is nothing in the CCEO that is of a permanent nature, at any point a Pope may add, delete or modify any canon on his own authority. That goes for the Particular Law of each Sui Iuris church as well.

Well, the Greek Catholic Church and other formerly Orthodox unions such as the Syro-Malabar Church have been enjoying the promises of the CCEO for quite a long time now.

The canons for the Orthodox are actually the same original canons that were composed by the church hundreds of years ago, they still work fine, that is no longer possible for those under the authority of the bishop of Rome (about 7% of the Byzantine population) who have been compelled to give them up.
Canons of Orthodox - CCEO
Only what it had previously enjoyed by right: Complete autocephaly like any Orthodox church.

Thank you for your comments and link on the Canons of the Orthodox. I will read up more on them and would love to have further discussions with you if possible.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

If the Pope of Rome converted to Orthodoxy personally

According to St. Robert Bellarmine, the “*the highest pontiff, not only cannot err as pontiff, but also as a particular person cannot be a heretic by believing anything false contrary to the faith…this cannot happen.” *(De Romano Pontifice, Bk IV, Ch. 6)

However, St. Robert discusses this hypothetical, although he affirms it cannot happen. Hypothetically, he would be ipso facto excommunicated, and no longer be pope, nor in full communion with the Catholic Church.

From the same text, St. Robert affirmed:“A pope who is a manifest heretic automatically (per se) ceases to be pope and head, just as he ceases automatically to be a Christian and a member of the Church. Wherefore, he can be judged and punished by the Church. This is the teaching of all the ancient Fathers who teach that manifest heretics immediately lose all jurisdiction.” (De Romano Pontifice, Bk II, Ch. 30)

 

[StMarina303ad]

Somebody who prays the Rosary every day, who celebrates Mass every day, who says the Filioque at Mass every day is not going to up and decide one day that The Orthodox are correct

I personally know 5 people who each prayed the Rosary Daily, each attended Daily Mass - receiving the Eucharist each day and who recited the Creed with the Filioque Clause added at Mass every day who each in their own way, at different times and places in the United States had powerful conversions to the Orthodox Church.

God can touch the heart of anyone to bring them to the fullness of the Truth and to His Church.

This post is in no way saying that the Roman Catholic Pope will convert to Orthodoxy, it’s a “what if”. It is interesting to see everyone’s opinions on the matter - on their view of what would happen.

 

[StMarina303ad]

From the same text, St. Robert affirmed:“A pope who is a manifest heretic automatically (per se) ceases to be pope and head, just as he ceases automatically to be a Christian and a member of the Church. Wherefore, he can be judged and punished by the Church. This is the teaching of all the ancient Fathers who teach that manifest heretics immediately lose all jurisdiction.” (De Romano Pontifice, Bk II, Ch. 30)

Curious: Does he say who it is in the Catholic Church that would have the “authority” to judge the pope to determine whether or not the pope was a heretic?