Conclavism

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Conclavism is the practice that has existed since the second half of the 20th century which consists in the convening of a conclave to elect rival popes (antipopes) to the current pope of Rome. This method is used by some Catholics, often Sedevacantists, who do not accept the legitimacy of their present papacy. Those who hold the position that a conclave can be convened to elect a pope to rival the current pope of Rome are called Conclavists. [1]

Contents

This claim is usually associated with the claim, known as sedevacantism, that the present holder of the title of pope is not pope, which implies they consider they have the right to elect a pope. However, not all Sedevacantists are Conclavists. [1]

The term "Conclavism" comes from the word "conclave", the term for a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a bishop of Rome, when that see is vacant.

Conclavism is different from what George Chryssides calls the "Mysticalists" phenomenon, i.e. people declaring themselves popes after receiving a personal mystical revelation. This is because in the Mysticalists' cases no human institution is used to have a pope appointed; an example of this case is the Apostles of Infinite Love. [1]

Description

The description and explanation of Conclavism of George Chryssides is: [1]

Since most Sedevacantists (although not all) object to Pope John XXIII's modernization of the Roman Catholic Church, they argue that he nullified his appointment to the papacy in 1958. It is therefore inferred that the conclave of cardinals who elected him was also invalid. Conclavists, however, hold that the method of electing a pope by a conclave remains the valid process and hence that it is necessary for a conclave to be reconstituted and convened. Since none of the members of that Pope John XXIII conclave remain alive, one must resort to the principle of epikeia ('reasonableness'), and that membership of a conclave should be drawn from the faithful community who are invited.

History

The idea of "reconvening a conclave arose in the late 1960s and early 1970s". One of the first proponents of the idea was Joaquín Sáenz y Arriaga, a Mexican priest. [1]

In the late 1980s, David Bawden promoted the idea of a papal election and ultimately sent out over 200 copies of a book of his to the editors of all the sedevacantist publications he could find, and to all the priests listed in a directory of traditionalists as being sedevacantists. [2] He was then elected in 1990 by a group of six people who included himself and his parents, and took the name "Pope Michael". [3] [1]

Conclavist claimants to the papacy

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Chryssides, George D. (2012). "CONCLAVISM.". Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. ISBN   978-0-8108-7967-6.
  2. ↑ "Pope Michael reply Bateman". catholiccouncil.homestead.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  3. ↑ Fox, Robin (2011). The Tribal Imagination: Civilization and the Savage Mind. Harvard University Press. p. 104. ISBN   9780674059016.
  4. ↑ Staff (6 December 2006). "10 Most Bizarre People on Earth". Oddee. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Habemus Papam!: Michael II". Magnus Lundberg. 10 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Claudio Rendina, La santa casta della Chiesa (Newton Compton Editori 2010 ISBN   978-8-85412683-1)
  7. ↑ "Modern Alternative Popes 17: Linus II". Magnus Lundberg. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "MEET THE SEDEVACANTIST ANTI-POPES" . Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Modern Alternative Popes 20: A Papal Hoax". Magnus Lundberg. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
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