Anti-Popes | EWTN
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<iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-NR4ZZL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TM6MCD6P" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> On Air Watch Listen Bible Shop EN Get Started EN Donate EN Watch Listen Bible Shop Get Started Donate Categories News EWTN News EWTN News Nightly EWTN Pro-Life Weekly EWTN News In Depth The World Over Pilgrimage to EWTN Support Welcome Tutorial FAQ TV Schedule Other Streaming Options Channel Finder Kids Radio Schedule Audio Archive Podcast Central Affiliates SW Frequency Guide SW Monitoring Form Frequently Asked Questions Scripture Daily Mass and Readings Bible Catholicism Explore See of Peter Teachings Devotions Saints Seasons and Feast Days Library Traditional Latin Mass Prayer Requests Giving Explore Donate Give Monthly Manage My Giving Ways to Give Resources Pro-life EWTN Learn Wings Privacy Policy International Satellite Feeds Blogs Employment Catholicism Library Family Home Library Anti-Popes Anti-Popes Author: Warren Carroll Share ANTI-POPESWarren H CarrollThere have been perhaps 30 or 40 Antipopes in the 2000-year history of the papacy.An antipope is a person claiming to be Pope who was not duly elected or proclaimed while a duly elected Pope was still in office.To begin with, it is vital to understand that there is no power on earth which may depose a Pope. Any duly elected Pope remains therefore in office until he dies or resigns (as has happened just seven times). Anyone, therefore, who claims to be Pope while a duly elected Pope is living and has not resigned is, ipso facto, an Antipope.Papal election procedures are governed by the prescription of the last Pope who provided for them (that is, any Pope can change them, but they remain in effect until they are changed by a duly elected Pope).During the first thousand years of the history of the Papacy the electors were the clergy of Rome (priests and deacons); during the second thousand years we have had the College of Cardinals.But each Pope, having unlimited sovereign power as head of the Church, can prescribe any method for the election of his successor(s) that he chooses. These methods must then be followed in the next election after the death of the Pope who prescribed it, and thereafter until they are changed. A Papal claimant not following these methods is also an Antipope.Since Antipopes by definition base their claims on defiance of proper Church authority, all have been harmful to the Church, though a few have later reformed after giving up their claims.-------------------------------------------------------------------Provided courtesy of: Eternal Word Television Network 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210 www.ewtn.com "I cannot bring Christ to my neighbour and to the world if I have not first given him to my family" — Mother Angelica EWTN News Sites EWTN News National Catholic Register ChurchPOP ACI Prensa Affiliates Español España Polska Magyar Svenska Yкраїнська Deutsch Learn More About Mother Angelica Press Room Employment EWTN Everywhere EWTN Apps Media Missionaries Privacy Policy Contact 1-800-447-3986 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 [email protected] EIN: 63-0801391 Donate EWTN News Sites EWTN News National Catholic Register ChurchPOP ACI Prensa Affiliates Español España Polska Magyar Svenska Yкраїнська Deutsch Learn More About Mother Angelica Press Room Employment EWTN Everywhere EWTN Apps Media Missionaries Privacy Policy Contact 1-800-447-3986 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 [email protected] EIN: 63-0801391 Donate © 2025 EWTN Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms and Conditions Your Privacy Choices Notice at Collection
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