With death of PF, some question coming conclave

https://wdtprs.com/2025/04/with-the-death-of-francis-some-will-have-questions-about-an-election/

With the death of Francis, some will have questions about an election
Posted on 21 April 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
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Francis’s soul went before the Just Judge at about 07:35 this morning, Easter Monday.

The vast majority of the Catholic world accepted readily that Francis was the legitimate Successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ. Others questioned whether he was legitimate either because of the odd way that Pope Benedict resigned, because of certain machinations by power-broker cardinals before the 2013 conclave, or because of Francis’ subsequent actions. It is mainly to these “others” that I address this, because, within these different groups, there could be doubts about how a College of Cardinals created by such a figure (i.e., not really the Pope) could ever elect a new Pope.

The way I see the question, much hinges on whether the office of Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome are inextricably united or not. At the time of Vatican I there was some debate. The majority of theologians thought they were bound together because Peter shed his blood in Rome, which sort of sealed the deal. Other theologians held that the two, Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ, were indeed separable. In fact, Peter was Vicar of Christ before he was bishop of anywhere. He lead the Church of Antioch and then left, taking Vicar of Christ with him. Had he left Rome for elsewhere, ditto. But he didn’t. Still, it is good question.

The proceedings of the modern conclave point to the codification in the rite that the one who is Bishop of Rome is the head of the College of Bishops, which could be another way of saying Vicar of Christ. I’d have to check the wording again.

UPDATE: I checked Universi dominici gregis:

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.

One thing is clear, however. Since Benedict’s abdication, even if he was right about being able to divide the papacy into a contemplative and an active role (which it seems he was trying to do… a doubtful enterprise) even if Benedict did retain that charism of being Vicar of Christ he certainly did not retain the role of Bishop of Rome (active).

As an aside, remember how Francis never called himself Vicar of Christ and only Bishop of Rome and even dropped Vicar of Christ as one of his formal titles?

There wasn’t much of a question about Francis having his person firmly seated in that Bishop of Rome chair which – pace some – really does make a difference. His authority as Bishop of Rome (at least) was hardly to be questioned. Moreover, his juridical acts would … should… could… be made firm by the Church herself in an Ecclesia supplet way, that is, the Church herself supplying the legitimacy of the act in cases of doubt. I’m not talking about his theological teaching on faith and morals. I’m talking about his juridical acts. I’m not an expert on Ecclesia supplet, but I’m pretty sure I’m right about this.

Here’s my point. If were to hold that there was something wrong with the papacy of Francis, that there was something defective in his election or his subsequent teaching, we can still be confident that, in his role as Bishop of Rome (leaving aside the Vicar of Christ dichotomy) he legitimately appointed clergy for the Diocese of Rome. Cardinals are clergy of the Diocese of Rome. That’s their origin. That’s why every cardinal has a titular church in the Diocese of Rome. That’s why they wear the Roman style biretta (without a pom). That’s why the College is divided into three orders, Bishops, Priests and Deacons… because in the ancient Roman Church the early parishes, tituli, were entrusted to deacons and priests and the outlying ring around Rome was entrusted to bishops.

Bottom line. Again, even if we admit that there was something strange about Francis’ tenure, it seems certain that he legitimately appointed a College of Cardinals.

It is precisely the task of this College to elect a new Bishop of Rome… who, by virtue of being Bishop of Rome is the Successor of Peter and, therefore, the Vicar of Christ, head of the Apostolic College.