New Questions Circulating Over Annulment Procedure

"Is my Pope valid?": Worried flock gather at St Peters...

Recent stunning documents released by Pope Francis have sent shockwaves through the Catholic world as previously comfortable Catholic couples asked themselves and each other the burning question: 'Is my Pope valid?'

Cardinal Pell raised cautiously raised this difficult and heart-breaking issue last year when during a homily at the Summorum Pontificum conference in Rome. The Cardinal then said...

'Pope Francis is the 266th Pope and history has seen 37 false or anti-Popes. From the eighth to the nineteenth century the Popes ruled most of central Italy, an area known as the Papal States. For the last 150 years, plus or minus, the Church has been led by Popes, who were better, wiser, holier and more learned, than the historical papal average for the two millennia.'

The shocking implication made by Cardinal Pell was that 14% of all Popes are invalid. Much of the media overlooked that worrying statistic and it wasn't one cited by Pope Francis himself but last week brought about new concerns for couples, single Catholics, priests, religious and even bishops.

The idea of an invalid Pope possibly emerging from a conclave was advanced by none other than St John Paul II in his own motu proprio, Universi Dominici Gregis, when, among other stipulations for future conclaves, he laid down the law of immediate excommunication upon those who would dare to canvass for votes during a papal election or in any way violate the secrecy for which such a supreme and sacred responsibility calls.

In particular, the Pope made a Saint by Pope Francis categorically made the following the law of the Church when he wrote and promulgated that...

The Cardinal electors shall further abstain from any form of pact, agreement, promise or other commitment of any kind which could oblige them to give or deny their vote to a person or persons. If this were in fact done, even under oath, I decree that such a commitment shall be null and void and that no one shall be bound to observe it; and I hereby impose the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae upon those who violate this prohibition.

In the light of revelations surrounding certain Cardinals during the pre-conclave gatherings and the alliances made during that time, before, over and after dinner, especially in Austin Ivereigh's epic 'whodunnit', The Great Reformer, many Catholics asked themselves whether the Pope is valid in the light of the law laid down by St John Paul II, but like so many difficult questions over such issues as validity, only a few of the Faithful sought answers concerning questions surrounding the abuse of the conclave procedure from the Church authorities. This week, however, more and more faithful Catholics are rushing to the Church authorities expressing grave concerns concerning the authenticity of their Pope.

One Catholic commentator expressed some deep reservations about Pope Francis's recent controversial documents. Others are simply so staggered that on top of reams of statements and teachings from Pope Francis that sit, to put it mildly, a little uncomfortably with the constant magisterial content of his predecessors, astonishing alterations to the Church's discipline in complicated and sensitive matters, over-riding much of canon law on a complex subject, have been issued from the hand of the Supreme Pontiff.

Another Catholic commentator today lamented openly saying,

"After all, we have had 'invalid' Popes before. What is the percentage of Popes who have been antipopes? One in fifty? One in ten? There would need to be a comprehensive investigation first, mind, a sober analysis of the facts and I don't think 45 days would be enough time. 

Naturally, these things shouldn't be rushed, but we also need to show mercy to the afflicted and consider their pain. Perhaps we should try counselling first before rushing headlong into something we might all regret. After all, His Holiness did swear an oath he was going to shepherd the faithful.

I mean, nobody can say he didn't publicly give his consent. Unless...We would also have to enquire into the validity of certain Cardinals who, for instance, are said to have canvassed for his election, but we mustn't gossip. It's worse than terrorism you know...It was Cardinal Pell who suggested that the ratio of invalid popes might be higher than some might expect. Not 50% but high nonetheless.'

Pope Francis and the Catholic Church then, in the view of some, a marriage on the rocks, with a growing number claiming the Pope and others could be guilty of some serious, perhaps catastrophic infidelity, before, during and after his election, as well as before, during and after the Synod on the Family. What with that and the more complicated issue of the "brevity of papacies", could things be about to get tough for Francis at the Synod?

The idea of the Church seeking an annulment with a Pope is unusual and while it has, as Cardinal Pell said, historically happened in the Church, it has usually been after the death of the Pope concerned, but if Catholics start believing in the papacy in the same way as Pope Francis seems to believe in marriage, perhaps the Church might seek an investigation as to whether a Pope should be presumed, or instead proven valid. It wouldn't be wise for the Church to be encouraged to find an 'easy way out' of a difficult marriage. It wouldn't be wise or prudent to encourage the break up of this relationship that is so integral to the Family of God, but will Pope Francis encourage the Church to do for him, what he has recently failed to do for those couples who need their vocations as married persons strengthened, rather than undermined, or placed unnecessarily into grave doubt, a lingering doubt that, during rocky times, could lead to the increased likelihood of tragic and avoidable break-up. Or will His Holiness say...

After all, isn't that what both marriage and the papacy are all about? We should pray for the unity of the Catholic Church under the governance and authority of the Pope and Bishops. After all, nobody really wants to annul a Pope and declare him to be invalid. Such things are rare, but there will always be a small minority of cases. This is why the Church's law is so important - it is needed to ensure justice is done, to examine the evidence and ascertain the truth.

The laws concerning annulments, both marital and papal, are there to protect the vulnerable who could be bullied, misled or abused in the process. It's really a 'safeguarding' issue. There may be some, even at the Synod perhaps, who would like to see that procedure 'fast-tracked' in order to be merciful to all the parties concerned, but I doubt that would really get the approval of anyone working at the Apostolic Signatura, do you?