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There are no formal requirements other than the candidate be a Catholic male. In theory, one doesn't even have to be a Cardinal (Or a priest!) to be elected Pope. In practice however, this has not occurred since 1379. There are INFORMAL requirements...unwritten rules if you will, for being elected Pope.
1. RANK: One must be a Cardinal to be elected Pope.
2. AGE: There are no formal age requirements for being elected Pope, but keep in mind that Cardinals are RARELY appointed before age 50. The youngest Cardinal presently serving is 57. Cardinals 80 and over cannot vote for Pope, and no one over 79 has EVER been elected Pope. The window of opportunity, therefore, is from one's late 50's to one's late 70's. Cardinals in their 60's are considered to be the ideal age for election.
3. LANGUAGES: The person who would be Pope must speak at least 3 languages: Latin, Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German are especially good for a potential Pope to know.
What else can I help you with?
Is it possible for the Pope to marry"?
No, the Pope cannot marry as celibacy is a requirement for the position in the Catholic Church.
Can cardinals be elected as pope?
For several centuries the pope has been elected from among the cardinals. It is not a requirement but has become a tradition.
Does a cardinal get picked to be the pope?
In recent times the pope has been chosen from within the ranks of the cardinals. It is not a requirement, however.
Does a pope have to say Mass in a basilica before it can be called a basilica?
No, it is not a requirement.
What do you have to do to be a pope?
The only requirement is that you must be a male Catholic. However, it also helps to be a cardinal. The Church has not had a non-cardinal as pope in many centuries.
Can Cardinal Pell be the next pope?
The only requirement to be pope is the potential candidate be a male Catholic. It also helps to be a cardinal. So, yes, Cardinal Pell could be the next pope but it is probably unlikely.
How old must a pope be?
While there is no official age requirement (yet), to be selected as pope you do have to meet certain qualifications which excludes almost any one who is young.
Was Leo X a Catholic?
Of course he was! The one requirement for a person to be pope is that he must be a male Catholic.
Could a woman be elected pope?
No. If that happened, I suppose you'd have to call her the "Mome."
Do you have to be a bishop to become pope?
The man elected as pope does not have to be ordained. However, once he is elected as pope he must be ordained as a bishop before he can be installed as pope. An example is Pope Elect Stephen II. He was a layman who was elected as pope. Before he could be made a bishop, however, he died, just two days after his election. Therefore, having never been a bishop, he is not considered to have been a pope,
What are the chances of being a pope?
Although any male Catholic could be chosen as pope. unless you are a cardinal, your chances of being chosen as pope are virtually zero.
When did Leo the Great stop being pope?
Leo 'stopped' being pope when he died on November 10, 461.
