Eastern Rite Pope

[prodromas]

I was just curious if an Eastern Catholic Hierarch was still open to election to Pope. If this is possible what would be the ramifications for the church? would the rite the Vatican use be eastern? or would the hierarch have to change the rite he celebrates?

[SolEX01]

To answer the question about rites ... The answer for the Papacy is set in stone:

Pope Pius V, whose pontificate lasted from 1566 to 1572, imposed the liturgical rite of Rome on the Latin Church, in response to the confusion that preceded the Protestant Reformation. A few other Western rites already hundreds of years old were allowed to remain active. In succeeding centuries, a few additional rites or observances have been created or added for the Western Church.

For the most part, Roman Catholics participate in Roman-rite liturgy, codified by the Missale Romanum, established at the Council of Trent and updated by Pope John Paul II, in response to the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).

[Deacon Lance]

Yes, Eastern Catholic Hierarchs are eligible to become Pope of Rome.  As to liturgics, since becoming Pope also means becoming Bishop of Rome, he would need to celebrate the Roman Rite for his diocese.  He would also be free to celebrate his native rite or any other for that matter.

Fr. Deacon Lance

[Tallitot]

The book and film "The Shoes of the Fisherman" was based on this premise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shoes_of_the_Fisherman#Plot

[Athanasios]

I was just curious if an Eastern Catholic Hierarch was still open to election to Pope. If this is possible what would be the ramifications for the church? would the rite the Vatican use be eastern? or would the hierarch have to change the rite he celebrates?

Yes, any man who is eligible for ordination may be elected Pope. Today, it is highly unlikely that someone who is not a member of the College of Cardinals will be elected Pope. But, there are Eastern Catholic Cardinals (i.e., Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronites).

In fact, in the conclave that elected Blessed John XIII, Gregory Peter IV Cardinal Aghagianian - Catholicos of Cilicia was very close to being elected Pope.

[Athanasios]

The book and film "The Shoes of the Fisherman" was based on this premise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shoes_of_the_Fisherman#Plot

Yes, he was a Ruthenian Bishop. This is life imitating art, because about 10 years later Pope John Paul II, who is Polish, was elected. No one could have imagined at the time that a non-Italian could be elected, certainly not a Slav from a communist country. And I know it doesn't really count, but his mother was Eastern Catholic.

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