Canonical Requirements For Being Pope

[ChristinaTherese]

We got into talking about this after breaking up into groups on the first night of RCIA last night (I'm going to see what more I can learn, not seeking any more sacraments), because we didn't have anything specific to talk about.... (Until we started going nerdy the conversation was pretty slow. I hope that we didn't accidentally scare anyone off because of that though, but with the group we had I doubt that we did.) What we came up with was this:

 

1) Catholic

2) Male

 

The leader of the group said that it was theoretically possible for there to be a married pope, since there are married priests. I have to wonder though, because the Orthodox have a rule (I think) that married priests cannot be made bishops, and I would assume that the same sort of rule could apply for us.

 

So my question, in short, is this: Is it even possible to have a married pope?

[cappie]

Canon 332 § 1 of the 1983 Code simply states that one already a bishop (nb: not necessarily a cardinal) who accepts legitimate papal election becomes pope immediately. One who is not yet a bishop (and the Church has elected several non-bishops to the papacy) can accept election, but must be immediately consecrated bishop. By implication, that would seem to require that a papabile:

(a) be male, and be willing (b) to be baptized, (c) ordained deacon, priest, and bishop, and (d) have the use of reason in order to accept election and, if necessary, holy orders.