Should the Pope be elected by everyday Catholics, instead of Cardinals?

[KostasKouvalis]

I know this is a random question, but me and my mom were talking about this yesterday, and I don't wanna wait for the Pope to die to ask it, so I'm asking it now.

The Pope after all is responsible for representing and influencing the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, so can't you argue that it's only fair that these 1.4 billion Catholics should have a say in who represents them?

A picture I took of Pope Francis during a visit to Rome

I agree, the Pope should be elected by the people

Nah, the system is fine the way it is

Updates

1 y

I thought with the recent events that it would be interesting to revisit this question

[BCRanger10]

No.

For one thing, that's logistically impossible, even with modern technology and communications abilities. The faithful would have to know who every cardinal is, what his theology and beliefs are, and most importantly, what the immediate situation in the Vatican is. Among other things. That's simply too much for everyday Catholics to keep up to date with.

For another, and stemming from the former, many Catholics today, quite possibly the majority of them, are horrifically incompetent when it comes to their knowledge of the Catholic Faith. Catechesis is a catastrophe at best right now. The majority of baptized Catholics don't even bother going to Mass. Worse even, there are entirely too many who know what the Church teaches, but don't care and want the teachings to be changed, which, for the record, they cannot be. Basically, you get the laity actively and directly involved and I guarantee you a Francis II.

Now it's true that in the past, the laity have at times been involved. But it has largely been the task of the College of Cardinals to elect the next pope.

[Flatmanlewis]

You made my point better than I could’ve myself.

[BCRanger10]

Thank you for MHO

[sean1234]

are horrifically incompetent when it comes to their knowledge of the Catholic Faith?

and who do they learn it from? I say leave the catholic tradition and join real Christianity. The Sabbath is the 7th day Saturday. :)

[AviatorTom]

No, leave it alone.

Essentially, the way the Pope is elected is the same way that parliamentary countries choose their Prime Minister. The College of Cardinals is the Roman Catholic Church equivalent of a parliament, at least when it comes to electing a Pope, and they elect a member (a cardinal) to become Pope, in the same way a parliament does.

[KostasKouvalis]

In parliamentary republics though, the people still vote for the party they want

[alice55]

Better be elected by cardinals majority of Catholic aren't very religious to be honest, they say they're Catholic but don't actually practices. Too the most Catholic countries (Italy / South America) is absolutely run by mafia, drugs trafficking and people dressing in extremely sexualized ways so that would be ironic to ask this kind of person to vote for the next pope.

Pope should be elected by people knowing perfectly the bible not a common person.

[KostasKouvalis]

I know.
That's a good point.

[strateguy632]

so naive haven't you heard how the pope is liberal. changing from past tradition.
and speaking of bible jesus never said "cardinals should appoint a pope".

[alice55]

@strateguy632 Actually the pope right now is a joke, sometime he's liberal and others conservative so...

[KostasKouvalis]

He IS! He said that transgenders can now be baptized, serve as godparents and even be witnesses at wedding, then he got in trouble for using homophobic slurs. He said, "there is an air of faggotry in the Vatican."
Yeah, he put it there😂

[alice55]

This dude seriously XD
He sound like he love being in the spotlight it seem not very Catholic of him.

[KostasKouvalis]

I agree. It's like he enjoys causing controversy. I went to the Angelus because it's still cool to see the Pope. My mom went back to the hotel. But she saw the Polish pope before in Poland. I would have loved to have seen him.

[Tamera952]

Maybe they could have a ‘public input or comments’ period when choosing a new Pope, giving anyone who wants to give their 2cents a chance to have a say — but I don’t know.
Does it really matter though? Same old shit from a cult in decline. Wish they’d stop molesting kids, if they haven’t already.

[strateguy632]

absolutely not! a religious leader must match whatever INTERNAL religous ideas, as interpreted by religious LEADERS so the cardinals who know the religion are the ONLY ones qualified to choose candidates... not any students nor laymen.

still at THAT point the full members of churches SHOULD choose from among the qualified candidates, by direct vote which pope,

after that proposed qualified then Catholics should have a say in who of those represents them.

not by the same cardinals, unless jesus had said so... but jesus never said "Simon peter appoint a group of cardinals to choose who will replace YOU" so ,

catholic system AT its MAIN characteristics is neither christian nor a legitimate branch of Christianity. unless it returns to pure new testament... as martin luther protested in 1500s.

[Red_Arrow]

No. Everyday Catholics should not elect the Pope.

And he does not represent the world's Catholics. He leads them. The Cardinals study the religion and research all they can on what is in the Holy writings and what they mean. And they guide the Pope on decisions that must be made. And when a new Pope must be chosen, it is the Cardinals who know the other Cardinals and who should take over as the new Pope. It is the deep knowledge they have and their long and careful consideration that makes them the best to choose the next Pope.

[strateguy632]

that is for choosing candidatee but they can choose 3 n then churches vote... but dont allow choice.

[Red_Arrow]

@strateguy632 The Cardinals choose the Pope, not just candidates. And they are the experts in the religion and therefore the leaders, so they choose.

[sean1234]

shouldn't everyone be experts? The bible should be the teacher.

[Red_Arrow]

@sean1234 How many people spend enough time studying the Bible to be experts on religion?

[sean1234]

How many people are going to make it to heaven? Revelation 20:7-10
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

[sean1234]

"the number of whom is as the sand of the sea" as in every evil person who has ever lived since Cain who killed Abel. The numbers are as the sands of the sea because they reject God, being an atheist willingly or simply being willingly ignorant by not reading their bible and keeping their ungodly traditions.

[hahahmm]

No, because in theory the Pope is supposed to be the inheritor of the keys given to St. Peter by Jesus to run the church until Jesus returns. Although the official Catholic church became deeply corrupt eons ago so the authority of one man is no longer recognized. Point is if this is the original intended Church, you don't get to vote for who the leader of all churches is. On the other hand, the pope doesn't actually represent Jesus's teachings now.

[paledreams]

I'm biased and even a bad Catholic by their standard in how I live my life or how I'd live my life even further ; I'm a leftie you see a left winger politically and socially - anyways keep the system as it is, purely because I'm biased and after all, let them keep it all in the club - it seems to be they just like being an exclusive club ☺️😁😋 so good for them and whatever wealthy looking surrounds or old gold adornments of the art, ceilings, etc

[genericname85]

lol church was never a democratic system and will never be. it has been built from the root up to control people, not to be controlled by people.

[Aubrey97]

Do you want them to campaign like politicians? Otherwise the cardinals are the only people who know each other. The rest of us don't know anything about them.

[KostasKouvalis]

That would be really cool.

[sean1234]

Why even have a pope when you can worship your lord Jesus instead? Why give one extremely flawed human so much power?

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't know, someone has to run things. Otherwise, Catholics would be fighting with each other and splitting off into different sects

[sean1234]

I rather have Jesus run everything, not a flawed human. can't we ourselves read the bible? Its not difficult. Just read it as it is WITHOUT tradition.

[KostasKouvalis]

It's open to interpretation

[sean1234]

Thats the whole thing though, for people interpret throuth tradition.

[sean1234]

Through*

[sean1234]

The pope is elected by Satan. No? Then destroy all catholic Tradition, starting with the 1st day false sabbath. Then deleting the veneration of Mary, destroying ALL idols in the Vatican city and the ones of mary and jesus on the cross, he's in heaven, not on cross.

[sean1234]

Church buildings don't need to be fancy, even they are turned into idols. The Catholic church changed the 10 commandments, destroyed the 2nd about not making graven images (idols), broke the 10th (shall not covet) into 2.

[sean1234]

All this vain prayers, hail Mary's, not in the bible, catholics don't need it, people in general don't need it. We only need the bible, preferably the KJV Bible because it's largely unaltered.

[sean1234]

To be a true christian, to follow tge bible, this must be gone...

Common Catholic Traditions Promoted or Codified by the Vatican
The Seven Sacraments
The Vatican has officially defined and regulated the seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony) as essential to Catholic life and worship.

Liturgical Rites and Mass Forms
The Roman Rite (including the Tridentine Mass and the Mass of Paul VI) and other rites (such as the Byzantine, Alexandrian, and others) are organized and approved by the Vatican. The Tridentine Mass was codified after the Council of Trent and later revised after Vatican II.

Prayer for the Dead
Praying for the deceased, especially for souls in purgatory, is a longstanding Catholic tradition. The Vatican has encouraged it through liturgy and official teaching.

Infant Baptism
The practice of baptizing infants, rooted in early Christian tradition, is upheld and regulated by the Church.

Perpetual Virginity of Mary
The belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity is a dogma affirmed by the Vatican.

The Real Presence in the Eucharist
The doctrine that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist is a central Catholic teaching, reaffirmed by various councils and papal documents.

The Sacrifice of the Mass
The Mass as a sacrifice, not just a memorial, is a distinctive Catholic tradition, taught and regulated by the Vatican.

Devotions and Practices
The Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, veneration of saints, and making the sign of the cross are devotional traditions encouraged by the Church, sometimes with official indulgences or prayers attached.

[sean1234]

Fasting and Abstinence Rules
Rules for fasting before Communion and on certain days (e. g., Ash Wednesday, Good Friday) have been set and revised by the Vatican over time.

Head Covering for Women in Church
Although less common today, this was a rule in the 1917 Code of Canon Law and is still observed in some traditionalist communities.

Ecumenical Councils and Dogmas
The Vatican convenes councils (e. g., Trent, Vatican I, Vatican II) that define doctrines and practices, such as original sin, justification, and the authority of the pope. These traditions are either directly created, codified, or officially regulated by the Vatican or th

[Anonymous]

You can't really change 2,000 of established tradition, even though they tried to a lot with Francis.

[strateguy632]

but they should. if people can't , then should leave a system that puts someone over you.

[joesheks]

The Bible speaks of democracy as evil. Remember Aaron? Unfortunately, with its obvious defects,
Most people go around crowing about as though being ruled or governed or preached to by the mob is inherently good

[Anonymous]

The whole idea of there even BEING a "pope" is ridiculous. I refuse to even RECOGNIZE this supposed position.

[4ngelic]

by the people

[DarkLegacy]

No just keep it the way it is

[Anonymous]

That's no way to run a cartel.