In early times, the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the cardinals, and for centuries the person elected was customarily a Roman priest and never a bishop from elsewhere. To preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating him a bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a bishop. The rule remains that, if the person elected Pope is not yet a bishop, he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.
In early times , the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the cardinals , and for centuries the person elected was customarily a Roman priest and never a bishop from elsewhere . To preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating him a bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a bishop . The rule remains that , if the person elected Pope is not yet a bishop , he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals , the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia .
What happens if a Pope is elected who is not a bishop?
What happens if a Pope is elected who is not a bishop ?
he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.
he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.