Can the Pope be a Byzantine Catholic?

[Lady Bug]

I am just wondering about this. The Eastern Catholics follow different rites, as I have been seeing. Does this affect one's eligibility to become Pope?

Was Peter married? If so, did there come a time in church history where it was declared that Popes had to remain celibate? If so, does this constitute a doctrinal change? (sorry, I know that's a shaky question. Probably the answer is no but I am wondering why is it is no)

 

[Monica02]

Yes, a Catholic from any rite (provided he is a male ) can become Pope. I believe an Armenian Catholic was almost elected last century.


Peter was married, but he may have been celibite during his ministry? Celibite clergy is a practice, not a dogma.

 

[Globalnomad]

Celibacy was made a rule for Latin-rite clergy around the eleventh century. No, it's not a doctrinal issue - it's an issue of Church discipline - it can be changed any time by the Pope.

 

[winsome]

Note sure about Eastern catholics, but a married priest can't be a bishop in the Orthodox Church. If Eastern Catholics follow the same rules then although an Eastern Rite Bishop could become pope, you couldn't get a married Pope.

 

[Tonks]

Bishops cannot be married in the eastern rites...i'm pretty sure. An EC could presumably become Pope but it is not likely. Further, the governance in the ECs is somewhat different as they're not monolithic in nature like the latin church.

 

[Rhamiel]

wait???? the Pope is the head of the Latin Rite as well as being the chief pastor on earth for all christians and first among equals, so if the Bishop elected Pope was Byzantie would he not just be atomatically moved to latin rite because he would be the head of the latin rite church?

 

[JasonV]

What if you had a married Bishop from the Anglican communion who converted and was incardinated and re-consecrated sub-conditione. Could he be elected as Pope?

 

[Rhamiel]

What if you had a married Bishop from the Anglican communion who converted and was incardinated and re-consecrated sub-conditione. Could he be elected as Pope?

well I see no reason he could not be elected pope

 

[AMDG]

The question about whether an Eastern Rite Catholic could be Pope of the Catholic Church, yes--remember it is ONE Catholic Church--not two. (And yes, the thought has come to mind before. See the movie, "The Shoes of Fisherman". In it the fictional elected Pope was of one of the Eastern Rites.

 

[Lady Bug]

when was the last time we had a Byzantine Pope?

and how many times has this happened in history?

 

[CoyoteUgly]

Are there cardinals then, who are from the eastern rites?
If there are, then these are the people who are in charge of selecting the next popes from among thei rown ranks. If there are eastern rites cadinals selecting the next pope, then I am sure that they would be eliglbe themselves.

 

[JasonV]

Wouldn't Peter himself be considered an "Eastern" Pope?

 

[AMDG]

As I understand it, the world's cardinals that are able to vote are locked into the chapel and the Holy Spirit guides the election of the new Pope. It is by 2/3 majority (or did the late Pope John Paul II make it a simple majority?)

 

[Lady Bug]

Wouldn't Peter himself be considered an "Eastern" Pope?

that is what I wonder...

I'm not too knowledgeable on the differences between the rites...honestly.

I mean I know that at infancy the Easter rite does baptism/Eucharist/confirmation all at once, and that they cross like those in the EOC do.

(how do they give babies the Eucharist though?)

 

[Tonks]

To be technical about it...any baptized, male Catholic can be elected Pope. If not a bishop the priest is ordained a bishop then made pope. If it is a lay person the individual is first made a deacon, then a priest, then a bishop, then pope.

Will this ever happen? Extremely doubtful. It is allowed, however.

 

[CoyoteUgly]

Wouldn't Peter himself be considered an "Eastern" Pope?

I don't think so. He was considered the pope because he was the frist Bishop of Rome.

 

[Davidnic]

As I understand it, the world's cardinals that are able to vote are locked into the chapel and the Holy Spirit guides the election of the new Pope. It is by 2/3 majority (or did the late Pope John Paul II make it a simple majority?)

I believe it is 2/3 until it goes on for a certain length of time and then it is simple majority.

 

[CoyoteUgly]

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html

Here's the procdure.
And there are eastern rite cardinals present too.
given that any Catholic, baptised, unmarried male is eligible, and that in practical terms it is cardinals who are elected pope, it does seem possible that an eastern rite cardinal could get elcted pope.

I doubt it happened before. The patriarchies before schism were always adminstratively quite idependant of one another.
And after 1453, when certain eastern chose Rome, there were few if any popes who were not from Italy or the rest of Western Europe.

 

[Diamantina]

that is what I wonder...

I'm not too knowledgeable on the differences between the rites...honestly.

I mean I know that at infancy the Easter rite does baptism/Eucharist/confirmation all at once, and that they cross like those in the EOC do.

(how do they give babies the Eucharist though?)

Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians have the Body and Blood together in the chalice. The priest gives people (children and adults) communion by spoon. A baby who cannot eat solid food would probably get a small spoonful of the Blood.

(Melkite Catholics give Communion a bit differently, IIRC: the priest dips the Body into the Blood and gives it to the communicant. Any Melkites here, please tell me if I am wrong.)

 

[Lady Bug]

anyone know what rites Peter followed as Pope? just curious.