Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More How Roman Catholic Popes are Chosen
Sep 2, 2020
Explore the fascinating history of the Roman Catholic Papacy, featuring insights into its 266 popes and anti-popes. Discover the intricate process of selecting a new pope, blending religion with political authority. Learn how the method of papal elections has evolved over time, from early Christian consensus to the modern conclave system. Uncover the challenges of documenting leadership changes that date back to St. Peter and the careful measures taken to ensure the integrity of this ancient institution.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
St. Peter And Early Succession
- Tradition says St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome and possibly hand-selected successors like Linus and Cletus.
- Records from the early underground church are poor, so the exact selection methods remain uncertain.
Cardinals Took Over Papal Elections
- In 1059 Pope Nicholas II limited papal elections to cardinals to reduce external political meddling.
- That reform aimed to insulate the selection from secular rulers but did not fully prevent interference.
Locked Conclaves Ended Long Deadlocks
- Deadlocked elections prompted Gregory X in 1271 to require cardinals be locked in 'cum clave' until they chose a pope.
- That conclave restriction created the sealed, secret process still used today.
