[Catholic Caucus] Pope in hospital, condition remains critical but no new respiratory crisis

Vatican News ^ | 02/23/2025 | Vatican News

[scouter]

>>>If Vigano were elected, he could rescind his excommunication with the stroke of a pen.

Thinking like a computer programmer here... If he’s not considered Catholic (i.e., he’s outside the Catholic Church) then he would not be a valid candidate. If he were elected, his election would not be valid, and therefore he would not have the authority to lift his own excommunication.

[Campion]

An excommunicated Catholic is still a Catholic. He’s a Catholic who is prohibited from receiving any sacraments until he manifests his repentance to the required authority. He is still, for example, under obligation to hear Mass on Sundays and Holydays, even though he can’t receive communion.

[scouter]

Gotcha. Makes sense.

[Verginius Rufus]

During the Great Schism there were two men both claiming to be the rightful pope (and eventually, three men). Each pope excommunicated the people who were loyal to a different pope. The schism ended when Martin V was elected in 1417, but he must have been excommunicated by one or more of the popes during the schism.

In retrospect the popes in Rome were regarded as the rightful popes but at the time people were unsure who was the real pope and who was an anti-pope.

[maddog55]

Finally..good news.

[scouter]

Excellent point!

[scouter]

Here’s the document that governs what happens when a pope dies or resigns, and how the new pope is elected.

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis.html

[Bigg Red]

Archbishop Vigano, please, God....

[moonhawk]

Like him or not, our duty as Catholics is to pray for his soul. God wants no one to be lost.

[JimRed]

Pray that he repents of the evil he has done to the Church and accepts Jesus’ sacrifice and salvation.