# Who can be the pope? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791 "2004-02-18T14:45:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ajfrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ajfrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajfrod)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/1 "2004-02-18T14:45:54Z")
Does the pope have to be a bishop or cardinal? What age does he have to be? ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/2 "2004-02-18T15:08:17Z")
[i[Any\* baptized, Catholic male is theoretically able to become pope. There are historical records of a child assuming the throne of Peter. A few rose from near obscurity, but most came from the ranks of the elite, bishop and above. Bet the rent that you have to be a cardinal these days to be considered, it’s a VERY closed club. Age is variable, some were quite young. These days you have to make the rounds, bishoprics in several cities, work at the Vatican and impress the powers that be to get the red hat[also, raise a lot of money, though that’s not official] That puts you in your 50’s at least, they like the venerable veneer. You can’t let it be known that you’re interested, humility is all. Much campaigning does go on though,you have to if you want the brass ring. The influence of prayer and the Holy Spirit is supposed to guide all the electors, who are after all choosing someone to guide the church for the forseeable future[John Paul I, not withstanding] Should be an interesting conclave when it does occur, lots of talk of another non-Italian pope is out there. God help us all! ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/3 "2004-02-18T15:16:19Z")
Technically, the pope can be anybody whom the College of Cardinals says he is. See Pope John Paul II’s [1996](http://www.newadvent.org/docs/jp02ud.htm) Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis. See in particular the following sections: > [@](#): > > 1. …having before their eyes solely the glory of God and the good of the Church, and having prayed for divine assistance, they shall give their vote to the person, **even outside the College of Cardinals** , who in their judgment is most suited to govern the universal Church in a fruitful and beneficial way. and > [@](#): > > 88.After his acceptance, the person elected, if he has already received episcopal ordination, is immediately Bishop of the Church of Rome, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops. He thus acquires and can exercise full and supreme power over the universal Church. > > If the person elected is not already a Bishop, he shall immediately be ordained Bishop. So it would seem like there are no restrictions on who could be elected pope, no matter their ecclesiastical status or age. Practically, though, the “candidates” are pretty much selected from the College of Cardinals. I don’t know if an elector has ever voted for a non-cardinal. And note, even if a non-bishop were elected pope, he’d have to be invested as a bishop before he could officially take office. ---
**Author:** ![graz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e79b87/32.png) [@graz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/graz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/4 "2004-02-18T18:48:43Z")
As mentioned above historically the two criteria necessary were: acquiring the red hat and being male. There were instances in the past when the pope died unexpectedly and the conclave elected someone for their administrative and leadership qualities rather than their piety. In these cases the electee would have to be baptised and made a cardinal before they became pope. …also type Pope Joan into Google. Her existence is still controversial I believe! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/5 "2004-02-18T19:05:36Z")
> [@graz](#): > > …also type Pope Joan into Google. Her existence is still controversial I believe! No. The female pope story is generally regarded as a fabrication. [Cite](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_139.html). - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Kerriensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@Kerriensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerriensis)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/6 "2004-02-18T21:18:55Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Practically, though, the “candidates” are pretty much selected from the College of Cardinals. I don’t know if an elector has ever voted for a non-cardinal. And note, even if a non-bishop were elected pope, he’d have to be invested as a bishop before he could officially take office. When Pope Pius XII died (1958) the College of Cardinals was quite an old bunch as in his nearly 20 years as Pope he held only 2 consistories (meetings at which new Cardinals are announced). Therefore, the field of candiates energetic enough for the position was greatly reduced. Despite the secrecy of the conclave (enclosed papal election) it is widely believed that the then Archbishop Montini of Milan received a number of votes, despite not being a Cardinal. He wasn’t elected - the papacy fell to Cardinal Roncalli - who took the name John XXIII. Montini was subsequently nominated a Cardinal by Bl. John XXIII and suceeded him as Pope Paul VI in 1963. Incidentally, the last non-Bishop to be elected Pope was Cardinal Cappelliari who became Gregory XVI in 1831. He was a monk and a senior Vatican official who is said to have refused episcopal ordination several times. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-be-the-pope/229791/7 "2004-02-18T23:14:46Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Technically, the pope can be anybody whom the College of Cardinals says he is. No. Technically, you’re wrong. Because this part you quoted… > [@](#): > > 88.After his acceptance, the person elected, if he has already received episcopal ordination, is immediately Bishop of the Church of Rome, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops. He thus acquires and can exercise full and supreme power over the universal Church. > > If the person elected is not already a Bishop, he shall immediately be ordained Bishop. Means that the person has to be eligible to be ordained a bishop. Church law only allows for Catholic baptized men to be ordained a bishop. Thus, no pagans, Jews, Muslims, women, or Protestants. Peace.