It has been reported that, since Paul VI, pontiffs have left a letter indicating how they wish things to be dealt with should they become permanently incapacitated. There have been general descriptions of the content, but no verification.
As far as the Monster HBomb situation goes, there would be enough cardinals in different parts of the world to form a conclave to elect a new pope. The most senior one would presumably preside over the vote.
It has been reported that, since Paul VI, pontiffs have left a letter indicating how they wish things to be dealt with should they become permanently incapacitated. There have been general descriptions of the content, but no verification.
As far as the Monster HBomb situation goes, there would be enough cardinals in different parts of the world to form a conclave to elect a new pope. The most senior one would presumably preside over the vote.
I read somewhere that Francis has written such a letter. It seems sensible.
The cardinals of the RC church are the honorary bishops, parish priests and deacons of the churches in Rome. Were a situation to arise where there were no actual cardinals I am sure that the working clergy of Rome or indeed even the Christian people of Rome would be able to choose a new bishop.
Have just checked ,for example , the the Archbishop of Westminster,Cardinal Vincent Nicols is the Cardinal-Priest of Santissimo Redentore e Sant'Alfonso in via Merulana.
The cardinals of the RC church are the honorary bishops, parish priests and deacons of the churches in Rome. Were a situation to arise where there were no actual cardinals I am sure that the working clergy of Rome or indeed even the Christian people of Rome would be able to choose a new bishop.
I bet there is already a protocol in place to cover such an eventuality.
For what it is worth Cardinal Nicols' titular church (of which he is the parish priest) is just behind the basilica of St Mary Major and is one of the very few neo gothic churches in Rome,built to the design of a Scottish architect. It is the church which contains the original of the well known ? icon of our Lady,Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Succour.
It was the church which I got locked into once , wondering how I was going to get out until I found a door which led into the priests' quarters and they let me out.
Surely it will be some mysterious person feom distant parts whom Francis has created cardinal 'in pectore'?
Hey! No spoilers please. I’ve only read as far as the Dean’s extempore sermon. 😉
If memory serves me well, should a pontiff expire without publishing the name of a cardinal in pectore, the appointment is null. Wikipedia tells us that John XXIII took three names with him to the grave, and an appointment by J2P2 died with him (although the appointee lived on, just not as a cardinal). As cardinalatial gear is pretty pricey, the candidate may have been relieved.
So if Francis has not named the mysterious prelate from foreign parts, his appointment would be null as of Francis' departure. He can, of course, be elected by the conclave, but just as a scarlet-free cleric.
And as a complete outsider, Australia now has a Cardinal who is head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He's also probably the youngest Cardinal, being just 44.
And as a complete outsider, Australia now has a Cardinal who is head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He's also probably the youngest Cardinal, being just 44.
They’d have to be very sure they wanted him for 40-50 years. Not least because it would basically finish the aspirations of every other living cardinal!
And as a complete outsider, Australia now has a Cardinal who is head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He's also probably the youngest Cardinal, being just 44.
They’d have to be very sure they wanted him for 40-50 years. Not least because it would basically finish the aspirations of every other living cardinal!
And as a complete outsider, Australia now has a Cardinal who is head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He's also probably the youngest Cardinal, being just 44.
As a nerdish point of correction, Svyatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kiev, is the chief prelate of the Ukrainian Catholics-- Svyatoslav is perhaps too hot politically and has challenged (politely) the Vatican's suggestion that Ukrainians "have the courage to wave a white flag", and in any case he allows the use of the patriarchal title, which irks Rome. Cardinal Mykola Bychok is the Eparch of SS Peter & Paul of Melbourne, so only rules Ukrainian Catholics in Australia (and perhaps New Zealand). I am not clear if his metropolitan is the Major Archbishop or if he is immediately subject to the Holy See.
Cardinal Bychok has jurisdiction over Catholics of the Ukrainian rite in Australia,New Zealand and Oceania (acc. to wikipaedia) .He was ordained as a bishop by Svytaoslav Shevchuk in St George's cathedral,Lviv. He is a member of the Redemptorist Order and worked as a pastor in Ukraine and the USA before being appointed to the Eparchy of SS Peter and Paul in Melbourne3.
Actually I think his metropolitan is the Latin rite Archbishop of Melbourne even though I think the other Australian eparchies are immediately subject.
Yes, you are right. I think that there's an academic paper there for a church history or canon law nerd. Australia is full of them (usually employed as baristas).
And I just discovered that the Latin for Wagga Wagga is Corvopolitana.
Comments
As far as the Monster HBomb situation goes, there would be enough cardinals in different parts of the world to form a conclave to elect a new pope. The most senior one would presumably preside over the vote.
I read somewhere that Francis has written such a letter. It seems sensible.
I bet there is already a protocol in place to cover such an eventuality.
It was the church which I got locked into once , wondering how I was going to get out until I found a door which led into the priests' quarters and they let me out.
Hey! No spoilers please. I’ve only read as far as the Dean’s extempore sermon. 😉
If memory serves me well, should a pontiff expire without publishing the name of a cardinal in pectore, the appointment is null. Wikipedia tells us that John XXIII took three names with him to the grave, and an appointment by J2P2 died with him (although the appointee lived on, just not as a cardinal). As cardinalatial gear is pretty pricey, the candidate may have been relieved.
So if Francis has not named the mysterious prelate from foreign parts, his appointment would be null as of Francis' departure. He can, of course, be elected by the conclave, but just as a scarlet-free cleric.
They’d have to be very sure they wanted him for 40-50 years. Not least because it would basically finish the aspirations of every other living cardinal!
Of course, rumour has it that there are ways of dealing with that, should it be decided the conclave made the wrong choice. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_I
As a nerdish point of correction, Svyatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kiev, is the chief prelate of the Ukrainian Catholics-- Svyatoslav is perhaps too hot politically and has challenged (politely) the Vatican's suggestion that Ukrainians "have the courage to wave a white flag", and in any case he allows the use of the patriarchal title, which irks Rome. Cardinal Mykola Bychok is the Eparch of SS Peter & Paul of Melbourne, so only rules Ukrainian Catholics in Australia (and perhaps New Zealand). I am not clear if his metropolitan is the Major Archbishop or if he is immediately subject to the Holy See.
And I just discovered that the Latin for Wagga Wagga is Corvopolitana.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/21/pope-francis-dies