Ordinations of the Papacy from 1447 to 1831
July 14, 2013
Apprentice Tyler
1
In "An Attempt to Date the Episcopal Succession of the Early Church", Apprentice Thomas does excellent research into the origins of the Papacy. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Apprentice Thomas should not have been content to terminate his research at the Episcopal ordinations, but should have continued examining the Presbyterian ordinations of the Popes. To that end, I have used the extensive resources of Catholic-Hierarchy.org to research the Presbyterian ordinations of the Papacy.
Apprentice Thomas discovered that some of the Popes were not Bishops, while the present paper demonstrates that Popes were not consistently ordained to the priesthood until 1775. Highlights of the findings and a discussion follow the Papal list.
Apprentice Thomas discovered that some of the Popes were not Bishops, while the present paper demonstrates that Popes were not consistently ordained to the priesthood until 1775. Highlights of the findings and a discussion follow the Papal list.
2
Not ordained a priest in red.
Not consecrated a Bishop in green.
Not ordained a priest and not consecrated a Bishop in blue.
If consecrated a Bishop after being elected Pope in italics.
If ordained a Bishop after being elevated to Cardinal underlined.
Not consecrated a Bishop in green.
Not ordained a priest and not consecrated a Bishop in blue.
If consecrated a Bishop after being elected Pope in italics.
If ordained a Bishop after being elevated to Cardinal underlined.
Papal
Name |
Ordained
Priest |
Consecrated
Bishop |
Elevated Cardinal
|
Elected
Pope |
Gregory XVI
Pius VIII Leo XII Pius VII Pius VI Clement XIV Clement XIII Benedict XIV Clement XII Benedict XIII Innocent XIII Clement XI Innocent XII AlexanderVIII Innocent XI Clement X Clement IX Alexander VII Innocent X Urban VIII Gregory XV Paul V Leo XI Clement VIII Innocent IX Gregory XIV Urban VII Sixtus V Gregory XIII Pius V Pius IV Paul IV Marcellus II Julius III Paul III Clement VII Hadrian VI Leo X Julius II Pius III Alexander VI Innocent VIII Sixtus IV Paul II Pius II Callistus III Nicholas V |
1787
12/17/1785 6/4/1783 9/21/1765 1755 NA 12/23/1731 NA NA 2/24/1671 NA Sep 1700 NA NA NA 4/6/1624 NA Dec 1634 NA NA NA NA 7/22/1567 1580 3/11/1544 NA 3/30/1553 1547 NA 1528 NA NA 1535 NA 6/26/1519 12/19/1517 6/30/1490 NA NA 9/30/1503 10/30/1471 NA NA NA 3/4/1447 NA NA |
2/6/1831
8/17/1800 2/24/1794 12/21/1782 2/22/1775 5/28/1769 3/19/1743 7/16/1724 6/18/1690 2/3/1675 6/16/1695 11/30/1700 10/27/1652 12/27/1654 1/29/1651 11/30/1627 3/29/1644 7/1/1635 1/25/1626 10/28/1604 5/1/1612 5/27/1597 3/9/1573 2/2/1592 NA 1564 4/4/1553 1/12/1567 NA 9/14/1556 4/20/1546 9/18/1505 4/10/1555 11/12/1514 7/2/1519 12/21/1517 NA 3/17/1513 1481 10/1/1503 NA NA 8/25/1471 NA 8/15/1447 8/31/1429 3/17/1447 |
3/21/1825
3/8/1816 3/8/1816 2/14/1785 4/26/1773 9/24/1759 12/20/1737 12/9/1726 5/17/1706 2/22/1672 6/7/1706 2/13/1690 9/1/1681 2/19/1652 3/6/1645 11/29/1669 4/9/1657 2/19/1652 8/30/1627 9/11/1606 9/19/1616 6/5/1596 12/12/1583 12/18/1585 12/12/1583 12/12/1583 12/12/1583 5/17/1570 3/12/1565 3/15/1557 4/8/1549 12/22/1536 12/19/1539 12/22/1536 9/20/1493 9/23/1513 7/1/1517 3/9/1489 12/16/1471 3/5/1460 2/20/1456 5/7/1473 9/18/1467 7/1/1440 12/17/1456 5/2/1444 12/16/1446 |
2/2/1831
3/31/1829 9/28/1823 3/14/1800 2/15/1775 5/19/1769 7/6/1758 8/17/1740 7/12/1730 5/29/1724 5/8/1721 11/23/1700 7/12/1691 10/6/1689 9/21/1676 4/29/1670 6/20/1667 4/7/1655 9/15/1644 8/6/1623 2/9/1621 5/16/1605 4/1/1605 1/30/1592 10/29/1591 12/5/1590 9/15/1590 4/24/1585 5/13/1572 1/7/1566 12/25/1559 5/23/1555 4/9/1555 2/7/1550 10/13/1534 11/19/1523 1/9/1522 3/11/1513 11/1/1503 9/22/1503 8/11/1492 8/29/1484 8/9/1471 8/30/1464 8/19/1458 4/8/1455 3/6/1447 |
3
Of the 384 years under examination, approximately 168 years, or 44%, were ruled by Popes that were not ordained clergy (in red) and only 24 years (6%) were covered by by Popes who were not consecrated (in green), but were ordained clergy. Popes who were not ordained or consecrated represent 28 years or approximately 7% of the years studied (in blue). In total, 220 years or 57% of the years studied, have reigning Popes who were not ordained or not consecrated or both. Clearly, one could be a member of the laity and still rule the Western Church. It is a quirk of the historical Roman church that while priests have the authority to remit sins, the head of the church, being a lay person, could not say Masses or hear confessions.
Popes who where ordained or consecrated are included for completeness and to demonstrate that even after their election, Popes were not required to be priests or bishops. Fortunately for the Roman Church, Benedict XIII (reigned 1724-1730) was ordained and concentrated, since the vast majority of Roman Bishops claim apostolic succession from Benedict XIII. Benedict's predecessor and two immediate successors were not ordained and this lack of ordination might call into question any bishops consecrated from 1721 to 1724 and from 1730 to 1758.
From the above list, the only consistency is that one must have been a member of the Roman Senate (today called the College of Cardinals) to be elected to the Papacy. All other considerations, whether being a priest or bishop, were secondary.
As late as 1769, a Pope could be elected who was not ordained and as recent as 1831, a Pope could be elected who was not consecrated. These two facts indicate to this Apprentice that the College of Cardinals, and by extension, the Papacy have not existed since time immemorial, rather the College of Cardinals and the Papacy are recent and the rules, procedures and precedents for those innovations present compelling evidence for their late origin.
Popes who where ordained or consecrated are included for completeness and to demonstrate that even after their election, Popes were not required to be priests or bishops. Fortunately for the Roman Church, Benedict XIII (reigned 1724-1730) was ordained and concentrated, since the vast majority of Roman Bishops claim apostolic succession from Benedict XIII. Benedict's predecessor and two immediate successors were not ordained and this lack of ordination might call into question any bishops consecrated from 1721 to 1724 and from 1730 to 1758.
From the above list, the only consistency is that one must have been a member of the Roman Senate (today called the College of Cardinals) to be elected to the Papacy. All other considerations, whether being a priest or bishop, were secondary.
As late as 1769, a Pope could be elected who was not ordained and as recent as 1831, a Pope could be elected who was not consecrated. These two facts indicate to this Apprentice that the College of Cardinals, and by extension, the Papacy have not existed since time immemorial, rather the College of Cardinals and the Papacy are recent and the rules, procedures and precedents for those innovations present compelling evidence for their late origin.