Pope-elect Stephen

In sources prior to the 1960s, this pope is called Stephen II and Pope Stephen II is called Stephen III.

Pope-elect Stephen
Predecessor	Zachary
Successor	Stephen II (as Pope) Celestine II (as Pope-elect)
Previous post(s)	Cardinal-priest of San Crisogono (745–752)
Orders
Created cardinal	745 by Zachary
Personal details
Born	Rome
Died	(752-03-25)25 March 752 Rome
Other popes named Stephen

Pope-elect Stephen (died 25 March 752) previously known as Pope Stephen II before 1961, was a Roman priest selected in March 752 to succeed Pope Zachary. Because he died before he was consecrated, he is considered only a pope-elect rather than a legitimate pope.

Election to the Papacy

In 745, Stephen was made a cardinal-priest by Pope Zachary. His titular church was San Crisogono. Zachary died in mid-March 752. On 23 March, Stephen was selected to become the new pope. He died of a stroke only days later, before being consecrated as bishop of Rome. ^{[1] [2]}

According to the canon law of the time, a pope's pontificate started upon his consecration. ^[3] Later canon law considered that a man became pope the moment he accepted his election, and Pope-elect Stephen was then anachronistically called Pope Stephen II. ^[4] His name was removed from the list of popes in the Annuario Pontificio in 1961. ^[5]

See also

• List of 10 shortest-reigning popes
• Pope John XX

References

1. "Horace Mann, "Pope Stephen II" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 2013)".
2. History's great untold stories: larger than life characters & dramatic ... By Joseph Cummins. National Geographic Books. p. 13.
3. Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 ISBN   978-88-209-8722-0), p. 11*
4. For example, see Rev. Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Full Catechism of the Catholic Religion (translated by Rev. John Fander; 1863), p. 60-61.
5. Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes (Harper Collins 2013 ISBN   978-0-06228834-9), p. 121