> What is the mechanism for kicking Francis out? <
There is none. A pope cannot be impeached, or anything like that. In the old days, a few popes were forced to resign by threat of military force. But today, you’ve just got to wait him out. (Unless you’ve got a mind to tamper with his food.)
Interestingly enough, you do not have to be a cardinal or even a priest to be elected pope! You’ve just got to be a male Catholic.
So, in theory, the cardinals could elect a bold reformer - someone completely free from the corrupt Church hierarchy - as pope. Of course that won’t happen.
But it would make for a good movie! Maybe they could call it “Citizen Pope”.
There is none. “
How about an assassin’s bullet? Francis is going to bring down the Catholic Church if he's allowed to "stay on!" They may as well have voted Obama in as Pope.
There is none. A pope cannot be impeached, or anything like that. In the old days, a few popes were forced to resign by threat of military force. But today, you’ve just got to wait him out. (Unless you’ve got a mind to tamper with his food.)
I have made this point before on other threads, but have been told by Roman Catholics I am wrong.
I only cited Roman Catholic canon lawyers in my posts.