Popes and the Papacy

The Next Pope -- The Book by Anura Guruge, Publisher of This Blog

'The Next Pope -- After Pope Benedict XVI' by Anura Guruge, 322 letter size pages, 1.7 pounds [.77kg], 150,000 words is meant to be the definitive, no stones left unturned handbook for the next papal election -- whenever that may occur (hopefully later than sooner).

This book, my second second papal, is in many ways an adjunct to this blog. The book was inspired by the interest afforded to some of the posts on this blog -- in particular to my list of papabili. This book augments the information I am able to provide on this blog.

There will be a permanent, fixed page on this blog that will serve as the portal (or gateway) to this book. It is titled 'The Next Pope' and you can visit it by clicking <here>.

In this book I describe, in detail, my rationale for picking the papabili that I did. I also provide biographies of my ten papabili to illustrate and highlight their credentials.

This book, as was the case with my 'Popes and the Tale of Their Names,' contains a significant amount of unique information and a lot of hitherto uncaptured statistics.

You can find a detailed Table of Contents (ToC) and previews at the portal. From my perspective this book is a collaboration with you ... my readers. My goal is to satisfy your needs and curiosity. Nearly every topic I have covered in this blog has been expanded upon in this book. I would contend that at least 20% of what is in this book is new or refined information.

I have also ventured into hitherto unchartered territory; e.g., in addition to providing a detailed analysis of John Paul II's 1996 Universi Dominici Gregis Apostolic Constitution that will govern the next sede vacante I also point out the inconsistencies in this Constitution! Yes, this constitution isn't as watertight as one would assume, let alone hope. Even the most inexperienced US corporate lawyer would not have allowed this document to go out in this form. But, that is the beauty of an Apostolic Constitution. Though legally binding, within the Church, it is still but a covenant between the Pope and his flock rather than being a sterile legal contract.

Your comments on the book will be most appreciated. You can use the comment feature of this blog or email me directly at: anu@wownh.com.

As with 'Popes and the Tale of Their Names' my goal with this book was to enhance, expand and educate. Per my style I labored to present the information in accurate, consistent form with lots of tables and statistics. Please have a look at the Previews I provide. Click <here>.

Thank you. All the best.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Grace, and may peace be with you.

An Ongoing Errata On Books About Popes

by Anura Guruge

I do this with utmost trepidation.

I really do not want to be a gadfly or be seen as a critic. I fully understand the meaning of that sage saying "those who live in glass houses ..."

That is why I started off writing a long apologia BEFORE I even started this project. My only motive and rationale is to propagate accuracy. You all can help. As I repeatedly point out, I may be wrong. I know I get things wrong, and I do not have a problem acknowledging my errors and fixing them.

Anyway, here is an ongoing list of POTENTIAL errors I have found in books about the popes. It is not a complete list. I just don't have the time. Again, I am sorry I have to do this. Don't shoot me for being essentially a messenger.

All the best. Many thanks.
Anura

Grace, and may peace be with you.

The Role of Cardinals in Papal Elections

by Anura Guruge

The singular preferential role that cardinals now enjoy when it comes to electing a new pope, i.e., that of being the exclusive, absolute electors (albeit only those under the age of 80) as well as the only ones eligible to be elected popes, is a relatively new occurrence -- having only come to be as of 1378. Even then, the notion that the next pope will be selected from within the College of Cardinals is but a tradition -- fostered by the cardinals.

While Canon Law (1983) as well as the latest Apostolic Constitution on papal elections [viz., John Paul II's 1996 Universi Dominci Gregis] categorically state that a new pope may only be elected by the cardinals (subject to the 80 year limit) there have been no edicts since Nicholas II's 1059 In Nomine Domini (In the Name of the Lord) that have in anyway touched upon the eligibility criteria to be pope.

Per In Nomine Domini a new pope would normally be chosen from within the ranks of Roman clergy (which included the then cardinals) but if a suitable candidate could not be found from those ranks, the cardinal bishops could chose somebody from another church. That is basically the 'last words' on papal eligibility. The last time a non-cardinal was elected, i.e., Urban VI, matters got so bad that the highly disruptive Great Western Schism [1378 to 1409] came to be -- with three competing popes vying for legitimacy towards the end! Coincidently, since then, the cardinals have assidously stuck with their own when it come to new popes.

The roles that cardinals have played as electors have also undergone some significant changes since 769 -- the first instance that cardinal priests and cardinal deacons were mentioned, separately from the Roman clergy, as the only ones eligble to be selected as pope.

Over the last six weeks I have been documenting a detailed history of the role of cardinls in papal elections. As is invariably the case, I have found some interesting gaps in prior studies of this subject. For example, many overlook the John IX's 898 synod that for the first time gave Cardinal Bishops a role in papal elections -- Cardinal Bishops, by definition, being from outside of Rome; Rome only having but one bishop, the pope.

I put together this chart, initially just to help me keep my bearings and successfully navigate through the various synods and edits without losing track of who was allowed to do what to whom. But, I realized that some of you will also find it useful. So here is a chart of the roles played by cardinals in papal elections as of 769.

[PLEASE click on the image to get a full size version in a pop-up window.]

 
Well I hope you enjoy it. My latest book, 'The Next Pope' contains over 33,000 words (65 letter size pages) on the history and role of cardinals.

I also should mention that a couple of weeks ago we went past the 22,000 visitor mark for this BLOG. Since I only started it in July 2008 that was ~1,000 visitors a month. Though I have not been updating this BLOG as often as I had hoped the hit rate continues to grow. So thank you.

All the best.

Anura

Grace, and may peace be with you.