With all this papal intrigue going on, I can’t believe the interest
in everything papal and all the articles being written about the subject and of
course, the intrigue and speculation; a pope has not resigned in 600 years.
One thing I learned from reading all the articles is that A
POPE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PRIEST BUT CAN BE ANY UNMARRIED CATHOLIC MAN…I think
I did hear of that in my studies.
Looking up who was the last non-priest pope, I came upon LEO
X who was merely a deacon when he was elected pope in 1513.
Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici was only 37 when he was
elected. Those were the days of the Medici and Borgia power families that
elected their members to the papacy (did you see THE BORGIAS series on HBO?).
Leo X did become a priest, bishop and cardinal but AFTER
being elected pope.
Leo X is best remembered for selling indulgences to help pay
for St. Peter’s Basilica which brought about the scorn of Martin Luther who
then started the REFORMATION and brought about PROTESTANTISM (get it…protestants
against the Catholic Church).
LEO X was also known as a homosexual which is interesting
given all the intrigue about homosexuality in the Vatican and the reason (some
say) that Benedict is resigning.
The cardinals have not gone outside their conclave to pick a
pope and I am pretty sure, they will not start now but I thought it was
interesting to see the options available.
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