If a man is part of a religious order and become pope, are the vows he takes still binding?

[Gnarwhal]

This was something that I never considered before, and saw a comment about it in passing that hit me like a ton of bricks. A lot of Pope Francis' "lifestyle choices" (i.e. living in a simple papal apartment instead of the palace) was because he took vows of poverty as a Jesuit. I think I often forgot Pope Francis was a Jesuit, weirdly, but it made so much more sense. I always thought he was just being iconoclastic.

So that brings me to my question, did he continue to follow those vows voluntarily or because they were still binding even as pope? I think I briefly remember when he was first elected, people wondering what the dynamics would be between Francis and the head of the Jesuits. Obviously he took obedience vows too, but as Pope his required obedience is only to God.

So are religious vows typically abrogated if one is elected pope and then voluntarily followed, or are they binding until death with no exceptions?

 

[RileyG]

Great question!

 

[Michie]

This was something that I never considered before, and saw a comment about it in passing that hit me like a ton of bricks. A lot of Pope Francis' "lifestyle choices" (i.e. living in a simple papal apartment instead of the palace) was because he took vows of poverty as a Jesuit. I think I often forgot Pope Francis was a Jesuit, weirdly, but it made so much more sense. I always thought he was just being iconoclastic.

So that brings me to my question, did he continue to follow those vows voluntarily or because they were still binding even as pope? I think I briefly remember when he was first elected, people wondering what the dynamics would be between Francis and the head of the Jesuits. Obviously he took obedience vows too, but as Pope his required obedience is only to God.

So are religious vows typically abrogated if one is elected pope and then voluntarily followed, or are they binding until death with no exceptions?

I looked at Canon Law Made Easy. Not sure if this helps. But I would assume it would cover the Bishop of Rome too.

What Happens When a Religious Who’s Vowed Poverty Becomes a Bishop?

Q: As for religious order priests or bishops, who normally take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, how does ordination to the episcopate change the requirement that th…

canonlawmadeeasy.com