# Is there any method of removing the Pope from office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789 "2010-03-17T20:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/1 "2010-03-17T20:32:35Z")
Does the Vatican have any kind of impeachment procedure, or are Roman Catholics stuck with a Pope for life no matter what he does? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/2 "2010-03-17T20:47:06Z")
Boniface IX was deposed by a council. So deposition is possible. However, today a council can (apparently) only be called by a pope. Any canon lawyers or historians with an interest in the Papacy on the Dope who might be able to give further insight? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/3 "2010-03-17T20:52:56Z")
According to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: > [@](#): > > It will appear that, in regard to a considerable number of points, not merely the supreme control, but the whole exercise of power is reserved to the Holy See, and is only granted to others by express delegation. This system of reservation is possible, since \*\*the pope is the universal source of all ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Hence it rests with him to determine in what measure he will confer jurisdiction on bishops and other prelates. \*\* > […] > (3) The legislative power of the pope carries with it the following rights: > > ``` > ***he can legislate for the whole Church, with or without the assistance of a general council;** > * if he legislates with the aid of a council it is his to convoke it, to preside, to direct its deliberations, to confirm its acts. > ***He has full authority to interpret, alter, and abrogate both his own laws and those established by his predecessors.** He has the same plenitude of power as they enjoyed, and stands in the same relation to their laws as to those which he himself has decreed; > > ``` > > […] > (4) In virtue of his supreme judicial authority > > ``` > * causae majores are reserved to him. By this term are signified cases dealing with matters of great moment, or those in which personages of eminent dignity are concerned. > > ``` Bolding mine. It appears that the Pope has pretty much supreme authority to decide what the Church will or will not do, including holding councils to kick him out. Of course, organizational bodies being what they are, I wouldn’t put it past the lower ranking officials to find a way of dealing with a mass murdering, slave trading, drug lord Pope or something. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/4 "2010-03-17T21:12:58Z")
Can he change doctrine arbitrarily? What if he were to wake up tomorrow and decide that all Church business was to be conducted in Chinese? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/5 "2010-03-17T21:39:18Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Can he change doctrine arbitrarily? What if he were to wake up tomorrow and decide that all Church business was to be conducted in Chinese? Well, there’s _doctrine_, and then there’s sense and process. The Pope has a great deal of power over the former, but not the latter. And even then, there’s a whole staff of people and the fact that any plausible papal candidate is basically subject to a more brutal process of scrutiny than any politician you’ll ever meet. Everybody knows what he thinks, because there’s a very small circle of elite theologians and bishops who will practically be up for popehood. Edit: One Pope did abdicate after five months. Some consider his “replacement” to be invalid as a result. This may have been called out in Dante’s Inferno, though some think Dante was talking about Pontius Plate instead. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/6 "2010-03-17T22:29:43Z")
They managed to get rid of _John Paul I_ quickly enough – only 33 days! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/7 "2010-03-17T22:39:10Z")
I had a theology teacher once who said that John Paul I was about to make an incorrect pronouncement _ex cathedra_, and so God killed him to prevent that from happening. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/8 "2010-03-17T22:45:56Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Boniface IX was deposed by a council. Boniface IX got sick and died. Are you sure you don’t mean antipope Benedict XIII, who was deposed by the Council of Constance? (There were three popes at the time, the council made them all resign and picked another one.) There were also the depositions of Benedict IX, Sylvester III and Gregory VI at the Council of Sutri. ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/9 "2010-03-17T23:03:59Z")
What about assassinations? Wasn’t there a run of Borgia-related popes? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/10 "2010-03-17T23:10:24Z")
There were two Borgia popes…Callixtus III and Alexander VI. I don’t believe that either were assassinated, though. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/11 "2010-03-17T23:16:22Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Boniface IX got sick and died. Are you sure you don’t mean antipope Benedict XIII, who was deposed by the Council of Constance? (There were three popes at the time, the council made them all resign and picked another one.) > > There were also the depositions of Benedict IX, Sylvester III and Gregory VI at the Council of Sutri. Actually, I did mean Bemedict IX; I got my B\*\*\*\*\*\*\* popes confused. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/12 "2010-03-17T23:18:53Z")
If a pope and the antipope of the same name should encouter each other, would thety mutually annihilate each other in a burst of energy? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/13 "2010-03-17T23:39:07Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Actually, I did mean Bemedict IX; I got my B\*\*\*\*\*\*\* popes confused. If you think they’re bad, try figuring out the Johns. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/14 "2010-03-18T00:00:43Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Can he change doctrine arbitrarily? What if he were to wake up tomorrow and decide that all Church business was to be conducted in Chinese? Although this example does seem unlikely, it does spark another question in my mind. What if the pope goes insane? Or like John Paul II has a condition which causes his mind to deteriorate to the point where he cannot function correctly anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/15 "2010-03-18T00:05:24Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > If you think they’re bad, try figuring out the Johns. Can I leave that to the overage sex workers in the next sequential thread? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/16 "2010-03-18T00:06:17Z")
Yes. Here is a list of the Popes so removed: [ > [@](#): > > John VIII (872-882): Poisoned and clubbed to death > Adrian III, St. (884-885): Rumored poisoned > Stephen VI (896-897): Strangled > Leo V (903): Murdered > John X (914-928): Suffocated under a pillow > Stephen VII (VIII) (928-931): Possibly murdered > Stephen VIII (IX) (939-942): Mutilated and died from injuries > John XII (955-964): Suffered a stroke while with a mistress or murdered by an outraged husband > Benedict VI (973-974): Strangled by a priest > John XIV (983-984): Starved to death or poisoned > Gregory V (996-999): Rumored poisoned, probably malaria > Sergius IV (1009-1012): Possibly murdered > Clement II (1046-1047): Rumored poisoned > Damasus II (1048): Rumored murdered > Boniface VIII (1294-1303): Died from abuse received while a captive of the French in Anagni ]([The Pope Encyclopedia](http://media.isnet.org/kristen/Ensiklopedia/AssassinatedPontiffs.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/17 "2010-03-18T00:34:29Z")
Even if a Pope were to establish a 25th Amendment-style ([Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_amendment)) procedure for removing an incapacitated or off-his-rocker pope, his successor could immediately and unilaterally repeal it, as **Josphiel** noted. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/18 "2010-03-18T00:38:49Z")
Add: [ul] [li]Peter[/li][li]Anicetus[/li][li]Pius I[/li][li]Soter[/li][li]Eleutherius[/li][li]Calixtus[/li][li]Cornelius[/li][li]SAtephen[/li][li]Sixtus II[/li][li]Caius[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/19 "2010-03-18T00:53:44Z")
\<1\> Office Logo | Options | Proofing | Autocorrect, enable “Replace text as you type” - Replace: Pope With: ALT+0160 \<2\> Insert | ClipArt | Organize Clips… | Search for “pope” - right-click on"Benedict XVI", choose “Delete from Clip Organizer” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789/20 "2010-03-18T01:32:19Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > \<1\> Office Logo | Options | Proofing | Autocorrect, enable “Replace text as you type” - Replace: Pope With: ALT+0160 > > \<2\> Insert | ClipArt | Organize Clips… | Search for “pope” - right-click on"Benedict XVI", choose “Delete from Clip Organizer” For the win!!! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-method-of-removing-the-pope-from-office/532789.md?page=2)