Political Discussion - "on-topic & unmoderated"Rated PG13, unmoderated but threads must stay on topic - that means you can flame each other all you want as long as it's legal
The data to determine the age and dates of birth of the youngest popes is frequently unavailable, as popes have generally been elected at older ages in modern times. The youngest pope was probably either Pope Benedict IX (who became pope at an unknown age between 11 and 17) or Pope John XII (who was 18 at the beginning of his papacy).
The data to determine the age and dates of birth of the youngest popes is frequently unavailable, as popes have generally been elected at older ages in modern times. The youngest pope was probably either Pope Benedict IX (who became pope at an unknown age between 11 and 17) or Pope John XII (who was 18 at the beginning of his papacy).
Wasn't JohnXX's papacy declared invalid after he was accused of murder and incest? What is it with priests and children, even 1,000 years ago.
Wasn't JohnXX's papacy declared invalid after he was accused of murder and incest? What is it with priests and children, even 1,000 years ago.
Benedict IX wasn't exactly a winner either.
Quote:
Benedict IX was around 18 to 20 years old when made pontiff, although some sources claim 11 or 12. He reportedly led an extremely dissolute life and allegedly had few qualifications for the papacy other than connections with a socially powerful family, although in terms of theology and the ordinary activities of the Church he was entirely unorthodox. St. Peter Damian is alleged to have described him as "feasting on immorality"; the anti-papal historian Ferdinand Gregorovius wrote that in Benedict, "a demon from hell in the disguise of a priest... occupied the chair of Peter and profaned the sacred mysteries of religion by his insolent courses."The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him "a disgrace to the Chair of Peter." The first pope said to have been primarily homosexual, he was said to have held orgies in the Lateran palace.
He was also accused by Bishop Benno of Piacenza of "many vile adulteries and murders". Pope Victor III, in his third book of Dialogues, referred to "his *****, murders and other unspeakable acts. His life as a pope so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it.
Three Canadian cardinals will be part of the conclave to elect a new pope, and one is considered a leading contender to take over after Pope Benedict XVI steps down Feb. 28.
The selection of a Canadian as pontiff would be unprecedented. A non-European cardinal has never been chosen to lead the church.
The Canadians involved in the decision-making process are Cardinal Thomas Collins from Toronto, and Cardinals Jean-Claude Turcotte and Marc Ouellet, both from Quebec.
In a rare move, Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign on Feb. 28, citing his deteriorating strength and health. The last pontiff to resign was Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
Cardinal Ouellet is the Canadian head of the Vatican's office for bishops and joins Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, and Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna, as potential successors to Benedict.
