Yes, I have seen all sorts of theoretical speculation about how a heretical Pope might be removed. But, like nuclear war, no one wants to move from a paper exercise to the real thing.
Except in the early 15th century when there were two and after the first attempt by a council to resolve the problem three, each recognized by a substantial part of Christendom as the pope. The next council did in fact resolve the question, although there were still a few additional struggles over the issue.
Not sure this is completely true. It's true from a historical point of view that the western schism was healed in the wake of the council of Constance, but it's not clear that it was done so by the authority of the council. It would be easy to fall into conciliarism.
I'm with William on this one. Best way to deal with nuclear war is to avoid it
Yes, and conciliarism was a problem until some time after Luther. But I would argue that after arresting one claimant and getting a second to agree to resign if the council agreed that he had been the true pope, and then voting by nations rather than by cardinals for the new pope, they removed most of the political support for the remaining contender and his faction died out. But certainly conciliarism was a factor for the rest of the century, which is why Basle is not given credit for instituting the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
I wonder if it is the competence of canonists to opine and determine whether Francis is a false Pope?
The consensus in the Renaissance period was that it was the prerogative of a Church Council to do so.
Yes, I have seen all sorts of theoretical speculation about how a heretical Pope might be removed. But, like nuclear war, no one wants to move from a paper exercise to the real thing.
Except in the early 15th century when there were two and after the first attempt by a council to resolve the problem three, each recognized by a substantial part of Christendom as the pope. The next council did in fact resolve the question, although there were still a few additional struggles over the issue.
Not sure this is completely true. It's true from a historical point of view that the western schism was healed in the wake of the council of Constance, but it's not clear that it was done so by the authority of the council. It would be easy to fall into conciliarism.
I'm with William on this one. Best way to deal with nuclear war is to avoid it
Yes, and conciliarism was a problem until some time after Luther. But I would argue that after arresting one claimant and getting a second to agree to resign if the council agreed that he had been the true pope, and then voting by nations rather than by cardinals for the new pope, they removed most of the political support for the remaining contender and his faction died out. But certainly conciliarism was a factor for the rest of the century, which is why Basle is not given credit for instituting the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.