Who ordains the pope?

Answer 1

That is a good question, and there is no one word answer. In the Catholic Church, the highest cleric that it is possible to be ordained or consecrated to is a Bishop (Episcopacy). Everything above, such as Archbishop, Cardinal, and Pope. Have no further ordinations, just the office and a title.

An Archbishop is a Bishop who has been made Bishop of an Archdiocese, and upon becoming Archbishop retains that title for life. Such is the case with Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. He was once a Bishop of an Archdiocese, when he retired and founded the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), he was entitled to keep the title Archbishop.

A Cardinal is one chosen by the Pope, there is actually no requirement historically for a Cardinal to be a Bishop. The lately beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman, was in fact a Priest who was made cardinal and was never of Episcopal character (i.e. was never consecrated or "ordained" a Bishop. I believe, however, that current constitution states that the chosen Cardinal Elect must be consecrated a Bishop, or receive permission from the pope not to be, before taking up his office.

As for the Pope, he is simply a Bishop, but the Bishop of Rome. He is God's representative on Earth. He, like all other Bishops has no consecration or "ordination" in addition to that of other Bishops. The Pope, however, has to be a Bishop, no exception. While a layman (or any Baptised Single Roman Catholic) can be elected as Pope. If someone was elected who was not already a Bishop, he would have to receive Episcopal Consecration (be Ordained a Bishop) first, before taking up his office. If however a Bishop was elected, his office as Pope would start immediatly.

If a layman was elected as Pope, any Bishop(s) could ordain him, though I would imagine in such a case that they would come from the college of Cardinals. This would likely be decided by the new Pope Elect.